Elukwatini – A police swoop at a house belonging to a 67-year-old pensioner on Thursday uncovered a massive arms cache that included over 100 high-calibre rifles, handguns, and 1 700 bullets.
The raid was conducted by multidisciplinary police teams in Elukwatini, outside Carolina, in Mpumalanga, where the pensioner was arrested.
Guns and bullets were found under a bed and inside a wardrobe.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said the pensioner was previously involved with a security company, where he allegedly could not account for at least 20 firearms.
“A search warrant was obtained and upon arrival at the premises as per information provided, the police discovered a total of about 106 firearms and 1 704 ammunition,” Colonel Mdhluli said.
“The firearms were not kept inside a safe but rather underneath a bed whilst some were kept inside a wardrobe.
“The members also discovered that licences for some firearms which could be owned by a certain security company had already expired.
“The suspect didn’t have a licence for four pistols, hence he was arrested and charged accordingly.”
Colonel Mdhluli said investigations were underway to establish how the pensioner acquired the firearms and if the lethal weapons were used in the commission of crimes.
“The confiscated firearms will undergo ballistic testing,” Colonel Mdhluli said.
Commenting on the matter, Mpumalanga police Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela: “It gives us courage that we are really moving towards the right direction whilst removing firearms from the wrong hands.
“We commend the whistleblowers and the members for the job well done.”
The suspect is due to appear in the Elukwatini Magistrate’s Court today, (19 January 2024).
