A 28-year-old Namibian national, employed as a security guard, was arrested on 13 September 2024 in Witbank for neglecting a company-issued firearm and having it without a valid permit.

The arrest came after members of the Middleburg Flying Squad, Witbank Crime Prevention, and a private security company received a tip-off about a suspicious individual driving a black VW Polo Cross and carrying a firearm. The team quickly launched a manhunt, locating the vehicle in a security complex.

When contacted by police, the security guard, who held a South African identity document, arrived at the scene but did not have the firearm in his possession. After searching his vehicle and finding nothing, authorities proceeded to his residence, where the firearm was discovered lying on a bed in his rented room, exposed to his wife.

The security guard could not produce a valid firearm license, only showing a photo of an expired permit on his phone. No safe was found in the apartment, and the firearm, along with 28 rounds of live ammunition, was seized.

He was arrested for possession of a firearm without a valid permit and failure to store the weapon in a safe, as required by the Firearm Control Act of South Africa. The suspect will appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on 16 September 2024.

Police are also investigating the security company that provided the firearm without ensuring the employee had a valid permit and a secure storage facility.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi, expressed concern over the negligence of lawful firearm owners. “This arrest should serve as a wake-up call for other law enforcers to comply with the Firearm Control Act,” stated Mkhwanazi.