Rustenburg - Eight men were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in South Africa's small farming town of Makwassie, North West police said on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Adéle Myburgh said the eight, aged between 25 and 35, were arrested on Monday, in collaboration with a farmer and the police.
"It is alleged that a farmer was driving along Wesselsbron dirt road in Makwassie when he spotted and stopped a suspicious vehicle at the Kommandodrift crossing," she said.
The farmer called the police and on arrival, the police conducted a search and found two 9mm pistols with ammunition, knives and other items such as balaclavas and hand gloves.
The suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition after failing to account for the possession, and were due to appear in the Wolmaransstad Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.