The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng welcomes the arrest of three suspects who are expected to appear in the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court today for possession of unlicensed firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition. The trio were arrested at around 01:30 on Thursday, 03 July 2025.
Ventersdorp Visible Policing members were on patrol when they spotted and stopped a suspicious white Nissan Micra vehicle at the N14 and R30 (Krugersdorp / Klerksdorp) intersection. Immediately after stopping, two men jumped out of the car and ran away. The remaining three males, two of whom are Zimbabweans, were searched together with a car. The action led to the discovery of a rifle with an obliterated serial number, two pistols and 18 rounds of ammunition. The suspects, aged 27, 40 and 45, were immediately arrested because they could not account for the firearms and ammunition. Initial investigations linked two firearms with cases reported in February and April this year in Soshanguve and Diepsloot, Gauteng Province.
Subsequent to further investigation, the North West team confirmed and verified with their counterparts in Kuruman, Northern Cape that the suspects were linked with a business robbery committed on Wednesday morning, 02 July 2025.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Asaneng has commended the Visible Policing members of Ventersdorp for their alertness and bravery in pursuing the suspicious vehicle during the early hours of the morning, which eventually led to the arrest of these dangerous and heavily armed habitual criminals. The General said further that the arrest of these criminals in Ventersdorp while they were enroute to Gauteng after committing a business robbery in Kuruman, which is more than 500 kilometres away, is an indication and confirmation that crime and criminals know no boundaries, but also should send an unambiguous message to criminals that they can run, but cannot hide from the long arm of the law.
“What is worrisome about this case is the connivance of South Africans with foreigners in the commission of crime, which is a direct attack on the state authority and obligation to create a safe and secure environment for all the citizens and inhabitants of the Republic. These foreigners most of whom are illegal in the country, are involved with the assistance of South Africans in serious and violent crimes and are a national security threat, which require collaboration between government, civil society and business. All those who aid and abet, harbour, or connive with criminals regardless of their nationality will face the full wrath of the law,” Major General Asaneng concluded.
