Today (11 January 2011) the National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele, was ecstatic to learn that members of the Gauteng police seized a large arms cache saying, “this is the best Christmas and New Year present I could have asked for.”
A team of investigators acted on intelligence which led them to an out-building of a house in Mukhari Street, Khumalo Valley in Katlehong where they uncovered a stash of explosives, firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The cache included the following :
Arms / explosives
5 x Mini Limpet mines,
4 x detonators,
2 x rocket launchers,
6 x F1 hand grenades,
1 x CSC rifle grenade,
2 x AK-47 rifles,
3 x Uzi sub-machine guns,
1 x R1 rifle,
1 x 303 rifle,
1 x silencer.
Several rounds of ammunition, including AK-47 rounds, R1 rounds, R5 rounds, 9mm rounds, shotgun rounds and .38 revolver rounds were also seized. Several gold bracelets were also found among the arms and were also seized.
Speaking to the media and the police members at the crime scene, the National Commissioner thanked both the Crime Intelligence and Organised Crime Unit members for their hard work and dedication in detecting the cache. “These people have accrued this stash of arms for one thing only and that is to wage war and you have done very well to detect them, possibly averting very serious crimes from being committed”, said General Bheki Cele.
The investigation has roped in various experts of the SAPS including forensics and investigators to determine the source of the artillery which may possibly lead to other such arms caches.
General Cele also expressed his confidence that the SAPS team will track down and arrest the wanted suspect/s soon. Thus far, one person is being questioned in connection with the find.
As he was departing from the subdued suburb, the locals gathered by the hundreds cheering and thanking the National Commissioner and the police in general for their presence and work in the area.
Enquiries:
Colonel Vishnu Naidoo :
Cell: 082 567 4153
Tel: 012 400 6579 / 6629 / 6576
Fax: 012 400 7018
E-mail:mediacentre@saps.org.za
