Armed teen arrested in gang-ridden Manenberg

150520. Cape Town. A boy walks to school with the SANDF patroling the streets of Mannenberg. SANDF and SAPS patroling the streets of Mannenberg on Thursday. SAPS searching random people as SANDF keep guard. This forms part of government's Operation Fiela recently launched to clamp down on criminal activity. Manenberg has been gripped by a deadly spate of gang violence over the past few weeks. Picture Henk Kruger/Cape Argus

150520. Cape Town. A boy walks to school with the SANDF patroling the streets of Mannenberg. SANDF and SAPS patroling the streets of Mannenberg on Thursday. SAPS searching random people as SANDF keep guard. This forms part of government's Operation Fiela recently launched to clamp down on criminal activity. Manenberg has been gripped by a deadly spate of gang violence over the past few weeks. Picture Henk Kruger/Cape Argus

Published Jul 27, 2016

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Johannesburg – A 16-year-old boy was arrested for the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition in Manenberg, Western Cape police said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said the teenager was arrested on Tuesday at around 3.30pm.

“During high density patrols, crime prevention operations, Manenberg SAPS members saw a young boy walking in Waterberg Road, Heideveld. When he saw the marked police vehicle he started acting nervously which made him suspicious,” Van Wyk said.

“SAPS [South African Police Service] members stopped and searched him and found a 9mm CZ pistol in his possession. The pistol still had its serial.”

Van Wyk said that the pistol is registered to a resident of Gugulethu and was not reported stolen.

“If the owner cannot give a reasonable account of not reporting his firearm missing he could face serious charges,” he said.

The teenager will be charged for the illegal possession of a firearm and is expected to appear in Athlone Magistrate’s Court soon.

Gang-related violence in Manenberg has spiralled out of control in recent years, and provincial law enforcement authorities have been battling to stem the tide of criminal activity, including drug dealing and murder. At vious stages the South African National Defence Force hasa been deployed to restore calm and assist in policing the area.

African News Agency and IOL

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