The determination by the Western Cape SAPS members to stop the illegal possession and use of firearms in the commission of serious and violent crime, once again paid off as members arrested three suspects for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Early Monday morning, 06 July 2026, at about 01:30, members attached to Anti-Gang Unit deployed in Hanover Park area arrested a 32-year-old male for the possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
The members gathered information regarding a firearm that was hidden at a premises in Surran Road, Hanover Park. A 9mm pistol without a serial number and eight rounds of ammunition were found in the possession of the suspect while he was trying to hide it under a canvas on the roof of a wendy house. He was arrested and detained at Philippi SAPS for further investigation.
In an unrelated matter, Manenberg SAPS Crime Prevention Unit members arrested a 33-year-old male for the possession of a prohibited firearm on Sunday, 05 July 2026 at 18:50.The members received information from the community about a firearm at a premises in Longkloof Street, Heideveld. They followed up the information and searched the identified premises and occupants. An adult male was found in possession of a 9mm Luger with 13 9mm rounds of ammunition. He was arrested for the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition as he could not give an account for it.
Both suspects will appear respectively in the Athlone Magistrates’ court once they have been charged.
Meanwhile members attached to Operation Lockdown III arrested a 21-year-old male for illegal possession of ammunition on Saturday, 04 July 2026 at 17:00
Members were busy with disruptive operations in the Bonteheuwel area and followed up information regarding shooting incidents in the area that occurred during the past week. The suspect was traced at a premises in Vyeboom Street, Bonteheuwel, and the occupants and premises searched. Eleven .38 special rounds were found in the yard and seized. The ammunition was handed in as exhibit and the suspect detained, he will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates court today, 06 July 2026 for the mentioned charge.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Major General Luyanda Damoyi, extended his appreciation to the teams involved and emphasised the importance of intelligence from the community. He further urged the police to continue efforts to eradicate illegal firearms from communities.
#GunsOffTheStreets