Key Takeaways
- The Western Cape police have confiscated four firearms on the Cape Flats on Sunday as part of their effort to rid Cape Town’s streets of illegal guns.
- The confiscations were made in different areas, including Bonteheuwel, Athlone, Steenberg, and Century City.
- The police have arrested several suspects in connection with the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
- The suspects will appear in various magistrates’ courts, including the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ court, the Athlone Magistrates’ court, the Wynberg Magistrates’ court, and the Cape Town Magistrates’ court.
Introduction to the Crackdown on Illegal Guns
The Western Cape police have made significant strides in their battle to rid Cape Town’s streets of illegal guns. On Sunday, they confiscated no fewer than four firearms on the Cape Flats, a notorious area known for its high crime rates. The confiscations were made in different areas, including Bonteheuwel, Athlone, Steenberg, and Century City. The police have been working tirelessly to dismantle the networks of illegal gun owners and traders, and their efforts seem to be paying off.
Operation Lockdown III Yields Results
In Bonteheuwel, members attached to Operation Lockdown III searched a premises in Geelhout Street, where they found a 7.65 pistol with six rounds of ammunition hidden in the house. They arrested a 39-year-old male for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The suspect will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 30 December 2025. During the same operation, the police noticed a man who started running when he noticed the police vehicle approaching. They gave chase, but the suspect evaded the police, throwing an imitation firearm on the ground in the process.
The Anti-Gang Unit Strikes Again
In an unrelated intervention, members of the Anti-Gang Unit conducted an intelligence-driven operation in Vygieskraal, Athlone, where they searched an informal dwelling. According to police spokesperson Wesley Twigg, the members found a 9mm pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition and arrested a 30-year-old male for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Once charged, the suspect will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ court on the mentioned charges. The Anti-Gang Unit has been instrumental in disrupting the activities of gangs in the Western Cape, and their efforts have led to the confiscation of numerous illegal firearms.
Steenberg and Century City Operations
Cops were also busy in Steenberg, where members of the Steenberg Crime Prevention Unit received information about a person who was in possession of a firearm in Cradock Road on Sunday morning. They followed up on the information and noticed the suspect fitting the description. When the suspect saw the police vehicle, he started to run, but the members gave chase on foot and apprehended him. Upon searching him, the members found a.45 Colt pistol with eight rounds of ammunition. The suspect faces charges for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ court once he has been charged. In an unrelated matter, members of the Maitland Flying Squad and a local security company followed up information on Sunday about a person who wanted to sell a firearm in Century City. They noticed the suspect fitting the description and apprehended him, finding a 9mm pistol with ammunition in his possession.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The confiscation of four firearms on the Cape Flats on Sunday is a significant blow to the illegal gun trade in the Western Cape. The police have sent a strong message to those involved in the trade that they will not tolerate the possession and distribution of illegal firearms. The arrests and confiscations are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Western Cape police, who are committed to making the streets of Cape Town safer for all citizens. As the police continue to crack down on illegal guns, it is likely that more confiscations and arrests will be made, leading to a decrease in crime and violence in the Western Cape. The community can rest assured that the police are doing everything in their power to prevent the proliferation of illegal firearms and to bring those responsible to justice.