Cape Town - Alert police in Cape Town have arrested seven suspects found in possession of illegal firearms in Nyanga and Mitrchells Plain.
In a statement, Western Cape police said its Back to Basic approach in Nyanga had resulted in the arrest of five suspects in two separate incidents on Sunday and in the early hours of Monday morning
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut said police were on patrol on Sunday night when they spotted a suspicious vehicle in Samora Machel, which prompted a stop and search.
"The four suspects were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and arrested."
On Monday morning, police spotted a suspect walking in Samora Machel, and his behavior convinced them to investigate further. He too, was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. The five suspects, aged between 19 and 37, were expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Traut said that in Mitchells Plain, equally alert police were conducting patrols in Rocklands on Monday morning and arrested a 22-year-old suspect for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. In a separate incident, in Westridge, a 26-year-old suspect was also arrested for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The two suspects are due to make a court appearance in a Mitchells Plain court on Tuesday.