A 30-year-old taxi passenger was arrested for illegal firearm possession during a police roadblock on the N3 highway in Mpumalanga earlier this week. According to a statement from the Provincial Commissioner’s office, the suspect, Mthabisang Gagayi, was apprehended in Grootvlei during Operation Shanela on January 8th.

Police found Gagayi in possession of a holstered firearm with three live rounds of ammunition. He failed to produce a license and was charged for unlicensed possession.

The weapon will undergo ballistic testing to determine if it was used in any crimes. Gagayi appeared in Balfour Magistrate’s Court on January 10th and remains in custody.

Provincial Commissioner Lt. Gen. Semakaleng Manamela praised the arrest, saying police are working hard to combat illegal firearms frequently used in violent crimes. The case was postponed to January 15th for further investigation.