A 46-year-old police officer from Lwandle has been arrested for possession of unlicensed firearm at his house.
The Sergeant was nabbed on Saturday night 29 October.
The arrest sent shock waves through the Lwandle Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Siyabonga Macaula, CPF chair, described the incident as “disheartening” for the community.
He said the incident proved what the community of Lwandle had been saying about some of the police officers and corruption within the police service.
According to Macaula, such incidents have the potential to ruin the relationship between the community and the police.
“As CPF, which is the mouthpiece of the community of Lwandle, we find this very discouraging. As the community we expect the police to do their work diligently and not be linked to such incidents because they are trusted by the same community to serve and protect them,” he said.
Macaula called on the justice department and police to deal decisively with the incident.
“No one in the community will have confidence in the police if such incidents persist. How do we expect a community member to go report a crime to a police officer who is also corrupt?” asked Macaula.
Provincial police spokesperson W/O Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the arrest. He said the officer was arrested on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“Police members of the Provincial Extortion Task Team followed up on information on Saturday 29 October 2022 in Lwandle. Upon arrival at the address in Majola Street at around 21:30, they found an unknown man at home, who admitted that he was in possession of a firearm which belonged to a relative,” he said.
“The police searched the premises and confiscated a 9 mm Norinco pistol with ammunition including one shotgun round found hidden in a crate. The man could not provide a valid licence of the firearm and ammunition. He also refused to disclose the identity of his relative, whom he claimed was the lawful owner of the firearm,” said Swartbooi.
He said the 46-year-old man was arrested and detained on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice and negligent safekeeping of a firearm.
