A TIP-OFF has led to the arrest of three suspects for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition following a shoot-out with police at a house in Site B, Khayelitsha, on Thursday.
The Hawks, together with the police's technical response team, seized a semi-automatic rifle and two handguns with the serial numbers filed off, as well as a quantity of ammunition.
They had been following up information about illegal firearms being stored at a house when shots were fired in their direction.
Hawks spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha said members retaliated and subsequently penetrated the house, following which they arrested three suspects. No one was injured.
The recovered firearms were undergoing ballistic tests to determine if they had been used in criminal activity.
Ramovha said the suspects, aged 27, 28 and 30, with alleged gang links, were expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Monday for contravening the Firearms Control Act.
Mzwandile Ndlovu, acting head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, welcomed the arrests.
“This augurs well for the fight against the proliferation of firearms in our communities. We will continue to execute our constitutional mandate to ensure the safety of all members of the community at all times.”
The arrests were made as 23-year-old Anele Mayongo, with alleged links to the trio, appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court yesterday. His case was postponed to October 20 for bail information.
The Hawks had swooped on him at a local petrol station. He was charged for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.