High-density operations and the strategic deployment of integrated forces in Athlone, Manenberg and Bontheuwel in the Western Cape reaped positive results with the arrests of several suspects as well of the confiscation of firearms and ammunition.
On 25 July 2026 at about 21:10, members attached to Operation Lockdown III arrested two elderly persons including a 61-year-old female and a 64-year-old male at a premises in 15th Avenue, Athlone for possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
The members followed up regarding a murder perpetrated in July 2026, whereby a person of a local gang grouping was shot in the area. Members responded and followed up information that led them to a premises where three alleged suspects were arrested.
Upon questioning the suspects and further gathering of information, the suspects took them to another address where a firearm without a serial number, believed to have been used in the murder, was found hidden under the mattress of the bed, including 16 rounds of ammunition. The male and female occupants of the premises were arrested and detained at Athlone SAPS for the possession of prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. The three males, aged between 19 and 21, who were found at the premises in 8th Avenue, were arrested for the murder perpetrated in July 2026.
The members deployed in Manenberg policing precinct arrested a 31-year-old male for illegal possession of a firearm, robbery with firearm and malicious damage to property, at a premises in Mayer Street, Manenberg. In a self-initiated operation, members were busy with stop and searches at the mentioned address when they saw an unknown male came running towards them, they stopped and searched him and found in his possession a firearm.
Whilst busy searching him an e-hailing driver approached them and informed them that the suspect robbed him with a firearm of his personal belongings (Samsung cell phone) and damaged his front windscreen. The suspect was then arrested and detained at Manenberg SAPS. He was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and the Samsung cellular telephone.
A 28-year-old female was arrested for possession of a prohibited 9mm firearm and illegal possession of ammunition at Blombos Street, Bonteheuwel. The members were busy with vehicle checkpoints in Bonteheuwel when they stopped and searched a purple Ford Courier LDV and found the suspect in possession of the firearm and ammunition.
She was arrested and detained at Bishop Lavis SAPS.
The suspects are due to appear respectively in the Athlone and Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ courts for their respective charges on Monday, 27 July 2026.
Several firearms were confiscated and arrests were made in the Western Cape https://t.co/DOKKytg3Mb#ArriveAlive #GunsOfftHeStreets @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/m27NnXOI29
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) July 27, 2026