Police recover firearms and arrest a hijacking suspect in separate incidents

In our efforts to eradicate illegal firearms and make our communities safe, police in Nelson Mandela Bay metro is adopting a zero-tolerance approach and making sure that criminals have no space to move.

In two separate incidents yesterday, 25 November 2021, two suspects were arrested, two firearms and a hijacked vehicle were recovered in Timothy Valley and Sidwell respectively.

In the first incident, it is alleged that at about 15:10, a 28-year-old driver stopped his silver Toyota Tazz at a shop in Skefile Street in Zwide. He was approached by two suspects armed with a firearm and they demanded the keys to his vehicle Tazz. The suspects fled with the vehicle. Information regarding the vehicle was circulated and members from SAPS Bethelsdorp immediately responded. At about 16:10 they received and followed up on information of the suspected hijacked vehicle in Brazil Street in Timothy Valley. A 23-year-old suspect was arrested inside the vehicle. A 9mm pistol (serial number filed off) was also found in his possession.

He was detained on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and possession of a hijacked vehicle. The suspect will appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court soon.

Also on the same day, at about 15:45, Anti-Gang Unit members arrested a 31-year-old suspect outside a block of flats in Sidwell. Members were conducting foot patrols in the hotspot area when they noticed two males standing near a staircase. Both males were searched and a 9mm pistol was found in possession of one of them. He was arrested and detained on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Both firearms will be sent to ballistics for analysis.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brig Thandiswa Kupiso reiterated that ‘we will be cleaning our streets during this festive season. There will be maximum boots on the ground and our men and women in blue will be breathing down the necks of criminals. We will make be working with other law enforcement and security companies and our collaboration will be felt.