• Successful Operation in Mqanduli: Police conducted a rapid, intelligence-led operation resulting in the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of three unlicensed firearms with ammunition.
• First Firearm Seized at Mcombothi Homestead: At around 03:30, officers found a shotgun and a .303 assault rifle with ammunition at a homestead, leading to the arrest of a 60-year-old man for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
• Second Firearm Recovered in Same Locality: Shortly after, police found a 24-year-old man with a blocked-serial-number 9mm pistol and ammunition, charging him with possession of unlicensed firearms.

Police in Mqanduli have arrested two men and recovered three unlicensed firearms with ammunition during a quick, intelligence-led operation in the early hours of Sunday, 10 August 2025.

According to OR Tambo District Commissioner, Major General Norman Modishana, the operation was executed by the District Task Team following actionable intelligence. The first search took place at around 03:30 at a homestead in Mcombothi locality, where officers discovered a shotgun and a .303 assault rifle, both with ammunition. A 60-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Shortly after, at approximately 04:00, police targeted a second house in the same locality. A 24-year-old man was found in possession of a 9mm pistol, with its serial number filed off, along with ammunition. He was arrested on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Major General Modishana praised the quick execution of the operation.

“It took less than an hour to recover three illegal firearms. We are intensifying our intelligence-driven operations to combat the spread of illegal weapons in the district,” he said.

Police have urged community members to continue providing information that can help in removing illegal firearms from circulation.

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