Johannesburg - Some weapons uncovered in a Norwood, Joburg, home last month belonged to the police.
This is according to State prosecutor Talita Louw, who revealed details of ongoing investigations in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday during the bail application of Emma Shumler-Tishko, 62, the wife of the homeowner.
Emma was arrested, along with her husband Mark and domestic worker Endi Nkhoma, at their Norwood home on May 22.
The three are facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and dealing in dagga.
Police found more than 300 firearms, ammunition, and explosives at a house.
This included an R1 rifle that had been handed in to the Roodepoort police station in 2010, Louw told the court, reading from an affidavit.
Records indicated that the rifle had been scheduled to be destroyed a month later.
Investigators found the same rifle, identified by its serial number, in the house.
“Other firearms were supposed to be in the possession of the police, but instead they are found in the possession of the applicant,” the affidavit stated. “The only inference one can make is that there is more to this case than meets the eye.”
More firearms in the home were found to have been registered, but were not listed as stolen in the firearm registration circulation system, according to the affidavit.
“Investigations are under way to determine how these firearms left the custody of the police,” the affidavit read.
In addition, several of the recovered firearms were reported stolen during previous crimes such as house robberies, theft out of motor vehicles and house break-ins.
Outside court after the hearing, advocate Modesto Saladino, who is representing the three accused, said: “The police have a lot to answer for.”
And in an interview before the hearing, Emma said: “This whole thing is a big nightmare.”
During the bail application, Saladino said the couple, who have a daughter, Nelly, 36, had been under severe financial strain.
He also told the court that Emma suffers from multiple sclerosis, making it impossible for her to walk.
“I am an unemployed, disabled adult female,” Saladino said, quoting from Emma’s affidavit.
The affidavit also said Emma had no knowledge of the contraband in the home.