- Seizure of Illegal Firearms in OR Tambo District: Police confiscated three unlicensed firearms in Mqanduli and Mthatha during operations to combat gun and drug crime, highlighting ongoing security efforts.
- Arrest of Suspects with Firearms and Drugs: On September 2nd and 3rd, suspects were apprehended with firearms, ammunition, and drugs, without proper licenses, reflecting their illegal possession.
- Details of Suspects and Their Confiscated Items: Suspects included individuals with a revolver, CZ 75 pistol, and 9mm pistol, along with drugs such as crystal meth and mandrax, all lacking legal authorization.
Police in the OR Tambo District have stepped up their efforts to protect communities, removing three illegal firearms from the streets of Mqanduli and Mthatha recently. The firearms were seized on the 2nd and 3rd September 2025, during operations by the Tactical Response Team and Mthatha Central Crime Prevention members.
The first arrest happened on the evening of 2 September, when officers stopped a 39-year-old man in Mqanduli’s CBD. He was found with a .38 revolver, its serial number erased and could not produce a licence for the weapon.
The following day, 3 September, two more men were arrested in Mthatha at Old Payne location. A 38-year-old suspect was found with a CZ 75 pistol, ammunition, as well as crystal meth and mandrax pills. At another homestead, a 35-year-old suspect was caught with a 9mm pistol and ammunition. Neither of them had licences for their firearms.
The three suspects are expected to appear in the Mqanduli and Mthatha Magistrate’s Courts soon on charges ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms to possession of drugs.
Police say these arrests show their ongoing commitment to tackling gun crime and drug abuse in the district. They are calling on residents to continue sharing information that can help take dangerous weapons and substances out of local communities.
