Cape Town - Bail was denied for two of the accused facing charges of breaking into the Simon's Town naval base and stealing weapons, while the third accused was released on bail of R3 000 and placed on house arrest.
Magistrate Crystal McKenna said people lived in a gang infested city and she "shuddered" to think what could have happened if the weapons had not been recovered.
She said the break-in had been well planned.
Dillon Sewkumar, 18, and Duncan Gouvias, 21, who have been charged with housebreaking, theft, possession of prohibited firearms and contravening the Explosives Act, are accused of breaking into a restricted naval base using bolt cutters to get through three security fences that were heavily guarded.
Among the weapons stolen were 58 hand grenades, two assault rifles and four Uzi sub-machine guns.
McKenna said the two were accused of wanting to sell the weapons "recklessly" to anyone regardless of theconsequences. She said the defence submitted they were young men and their age should be taken into consideration during the bail application.
"The court would agree they are young, but they are not juveniles who don't have the mental capacity to tell right from wrong."
McKenna said it would be a sad day in the criminal justice system for the accused to be released on bail because they were young.
She said the State had told the court they had a strong case against the three youngsters, all of whom planned to plead not guilty, and that should they be convicted they faced a hefty penalty.
Both men looked shattered at the prospect of remaining in custody and turned to their families in the gallery, shaking their heads.
The State had earlier pointed out the accused had breached national security and the weapons stolen could have landed up with gangsters which could have caused untold loss of life.
McKenna found Gouvias and Sewkumar had not proved to the court it would be in the interests of justice to release them on bail.
McKenna, however, said Karabo Ramakgopa, 19, an electrical engineering student, who it is alleged was found in possession of one of the firearms, had not been linked to the housebreaking. Bail was set at R3 000 and he has been placed under house arrest.
Lawyer Andre Johnston, who is representing Gouvias, said his client had a rash and had been suffering from a fever and headaches while incarcerated at Pollsmoor Prison. He requested he be sent to the hospital section. McKenna said she had no control over what happened at Pollsmoor, but would attach the request to his documentation.