A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a funeral in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Saturday. According to police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, members of the Motherwell SAPS Technical Response Team (TRT) acted on information about a possible shooting at a funeral in NU 10, Mbaza Street.
While conducting a waylay operation, officers spotted a white VW Polo Vivo whose driver allegedly fired shots at the homestead where the funeral was held. The suspect was intercepted, and upon searching the vehicle, members recovered two 9mm pistols with serial numbers removed, two magazines, five rounds of ammunition, and two empty cartridges.
Arrest and Charges
The suspect was unable to provide a licence and was arrested. The vehicle was also confiscated. The man is expected to appear in the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as unlawful discharge of a firearm in a public place.
Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner Vuyisile Ncata commended officers for their swift response, saying their actions helped prevent further violence. South African Police Service has been working tirelessly to curb crime in the region.
Related Incidents
Earlier this month, a kidnapped KwaZulu-Natal man was rescued in a dramatic police swoop spanning the south coast and central Durban. The terrifying ordeal began when a family in Paddock reported their 38-year-old relative missing on Sunday, March 1, triggering an urgent investigation.
- A family in Paddock reported their 38-year-old relative missing on Sunday, March 1
- The police intervention led to the rescue of the kidnapped man
- Two men were traced and arrested on charges of kidnapping
For more information on the South African judicial system, visit the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development website.
