Earlier today (Wednesday) Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received information that a rifle was being transported to a high school in Brindhaven – Kwazulu Natal.
The informer was unsure if the suspects intended intimidating or shooting any scholars when the secondary school closed for the day. This information was shared with partners in Law Enforcement. A Reaction Officer was positioned in the vicinity of the school in an unmarked vehicle and kept observation.
At approximately 14:25 the Reaction Officer requested back-up after noticing a rifle being removed from a green Citi Golf & being concealed by a male inside a light blue Nike jacket. The rifle was then taken to a Blue Honda Ballade parked an few meters away and handed over to three occupants seated inside the vehicle.
Back-up Reaction Officers converged onto the scene & took possession of the rifle (main picture). Upon closer inspection the rifle was found to be a replica and did not require a license.
One (1) of the men that were in possession of the replica firearm had several incidents of violence/assault reported against him since 2022. He had previously been arrested and released by Law Enforcement for inciting a gang fight outside the same school last year (2023).
The second man was an ex-student at the same school. He had matriculated last year and had a history of unruly behaviour. The third male had been expelled from the institution years ago after he became problematic.
The fourth man had no history of violence.