NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has applauded members for their resilience in fighting crime, specifically in tackling the proliferation of firearms. This comes after the recovery of a pistol as well as the arrest of a woman, aged 32 on charges of being in possession of a firearm with ammunition at Phola on Friday, 29 April 2022.

Reports indicate that members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Tracing Team were busy with their probe of a certain criminal case whereby information was gathered regarding a firearm and ammunition. The details were then followed and the investigation led the members into a house at Phola. Upon their arrival, they found a female and then conducted a search inside the house where a 9mm pistol with ammunition was discovered. The lady was not in possession of a licence for the firearm hence she was arrested and charged accordingly.

The female suspect is expected to appear in the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 03 May 2022 facing a charge of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela reiterated that police will continue to remove all illegal firearms that are in circulation within the society as long as they can hear of such information. “Our members are like an oiled machine and well determined to ensure that the trust is maintained between the police and our communities in the fight against crime. We therefore encourage the public to tell us of any person who is in possession of a firearm (s) illegally. We will not hesitate to act swiftly and remove such firearms” assured the General.

Source: South African Police Service