The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Nelson Mandela Bay District has arrested five male suspects and recovered five unlicensed firearms along with 66 rounds of assorted live ammunition during targeted crime-combatting operations conducted between 13 and 16 June 2026.
The arrests were made across four policing precincts in Gqeberha, namely New Brighton, Chatty, Gelvandale and KwaZakhele, as police intensified efforts to curb serious and violent crime in identified hotspot areas.
According to SAPS, the operations were intelligence-driven and focused on areas experiencing high levels of criminal activity. The deployment of crime intelligence operatives played a key role in locating suspects and recovering the illegal weapons.
The five suspects have been charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act and are expected to appear in court soon.
Police believe the recovery of the firearms will contribute significantly to reducing violent crime in the district, as illegal weapons are often linked to offences such as murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and gang-related violence.
Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Loyiso Ngalo, praised the efforts of officers involved in the operations.
“We are conducting operations in various hotspot areas of the district. The deployment of crime intelligence operatives in the area is yielding positive results,” said Brigadier Ngalo.
SAPS has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying crime prevention operations and removing illegal firearms from communities as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety and security across the Nelson Mandela Bay District.
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