Durban - A policeman is never off the clock.
That was the attitude of Pietermaritzburg policeman Lieutenant-Colonel Mmeli Ngubane, the commander of the Tactical Response Team in the city, who single-handedly recovered two illegal rifles and arrested a suspect on Thursday – even though the policeman was off duty.
Ngubane received a phone call from a concerned member of the community at 5am, about a suspicious-looking vehicle driving around an area close to Camperdown.
Ngubane immediately responded, and went out to the scene in his private vehicle, as he was off duty.
After spotting the suspicious vehicle, he approached the six occupants in the vehicle and identified himself as a police officer.
“Five of the suspects immediately fled into nearby bushes,” said the police’s Colonel Jay Naicker.
Undeterred, Ngubane arrested a suspect, the driver of the car. He searched the vehicle and recovered an AK-47 rifle with 25 rounds of ammunition and a .303 rifle with four rounds of ammunition.
A case of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition is being investigated.
A 39-year-old suspect was expected to appear at the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The five suspects on the run are being sought by police.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended Ngubane for his bravery and dedication.
“It is obvious that our police officers have fostered a good relationship with members of the community, who will call them even if they are off duty, and provide them with information on criminal activities,” she said.
“I am proud of Lieutenant-Colonel Ngubane for responding, even though he was off duty, thus apprehending the suspect while recovering these high-calibre firearms.”
Daily News