ALMOST five years after the July 2021 unrest that swept across KZN and parts of Gauteng, police have recovered only 46 552 rounds of ammunition from the estimated 1.2 million rounds stolen during the chaos in Durban.

The ammunition was looted from a factory in the Mobeni industrial area near Montclair during the unrest, which saw widespread destruction, looting and disruption across the province.

Sixteen suspects were linked to theft of ammunition

The police confirmed that 200 000 primers used in ammunition reloading have also been recovered, while a total of 16 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.

Also read: Series of incidents that led to July looting

Following the theft, suspects were arrested in several areas south of Durban, including Wentworth and Montclair, where additional cases linked to illegal possession of ammunition were opened.

The police recovered less than 5% of the missing stock, raising concerns over its possible link to violent crime in southern Durban communities.

Stolen ammunition sparks security concerns

Security officials have expressed concern that the stolen ammunition may have fuelled crime in surrounding communities already struggling with gang-related shootings and organised criminal activity.

PT Alarms spokesperson Dhevan Govindasamy said almost 800 000 primers were among the items looted from a shipping container in the Mobeni industrial area during the unrest.

“There is a possibility that the theft of this ammunition contributed to crime in nearby communities. It was the largest known loss of ammunition from a civilian source in South Africa. Only about 46 500 to 47 000 rounds, roughly 5% of what was stolen, have been recovered. No new recoveries have been reported since 2024,” said Govindasamy.

Also read: 20 alleged July unrest instigators arrested

He added that the scale of the theft continued to raise concerns among residents in the south of Durban, many of whom have experienced persistent gun violence in recent years.

Hawks confirmed that police investigations continues

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) confirmed that investigations into the matter are continuing.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said police were continuing to follow up on intelligence and leads linked to the case.

“Thus far, 46 552 rounds of ammunition and 200 000 primers have been recovered, with a total of 16 arrests. The DPCI matter’s last court date was on April 30. The intelligence information received forms part of the investigation and cannot be discussed in the public domain,” said Mbambo.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that more arrests could follow as investigations continue.

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