With gun violence increasing in the Southern Mail distribution area, police have amped up their search for illegal guns on the streets.
On Saturday July 4 at 8:40pm officers of Steenberg SAPS’ Crime Prevention Unit arrested a 38-year-old man for the possession of an unlicensed gun and ammunition in Dover Court, Lavender Hill.
Officers were conducting stop-and-search operations in Lavender Hill due to sporadic shooting incidents that were reported in the area when they saw the suspect.
The man made an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 6.
In an unrelated incident, the same officers arrested another man for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Komlossy Street, Cafda, Retreat, at about 2:30am. The 28-year-old suspect was set to appear in court in Wynberg on Tuesday July 7.
On Thursday July 2, at about 3am, officers from the Steenberg Crime Prevention Unit were conducting patrols in the Lavender Hill area when they saw two men coming from Welton Road.
When the men saw the marked police vehicle, they turned around but the officers followed. The men were apprehended and a black 9mm pistol was recovered in the yard where they ran to hide.
The pair, aged 26 and 27, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
In the Grassy Park police precinct, two suspects, 17 and 21, were also arrested in Duiker Road, Lotus River, for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on the morning of Sunday June 28.
Officers saw the two suspects while doing patrols. One suspect had a gun in his hand and when he saw the officers, he pointed the firearm at them and then threw the firearm down and fled.
Both suspects were arrested on the scene on charges of possession of a gun and ammunition and pointing of the fire-
arm.
They appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday June 30.
