Operation Shanela continues to yield positive results as a 30-year-old male suspect was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and eight rounds of ammunition in London Trust, near a tavern in Bushbuckridge.

The arrest occurred during a routine stop-and-search operation by SAPS members in the Bushbuckridge policing area. Officers noticed a group of individuals gathered near the tavern and proceeded to search them. During the search, a firearm with eight rounds of ammunition was found in the possession of one individual. The suspect was unable to produce a firearm license and was immediately apprehended and charged.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on, 02 September 2024, to face charges related to the possession of the unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the officers for their diligence in the arrest and recovery of the firearm. “We are making significant progress in addressing the proliferation of illegal firearms, which are often used in violent crimes. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our members, we are continuing to remove these dangerous weapons from the wrong hands,” said Major General Mkhwanazi.