A forty-seven year old man from the Heidelberg area has been arrested for possession of explosives, military uniforms, firearms and unlicensed ammunition.

The 27 October arrest followed from information received regarding an individual who was suspected to be in possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunitions, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) said.

Upon arrival with a search warrant at the suspect’s plot, officers found his wife, who alleged that her husband was at work. She was then informed of the reason for the visit and shown the approved search warrant. However, she refused the officers entry whilst dogs on the premises made it difficult for the police to gain access. The SAPS and EMPD K9 units were called to the scene to help contain the dogs. After a few minutes, the suspect arrived and the search commenced in his presence.

While searching, live ammunition was found in a safe upstairs, while in the main bedroom 79 9 mm rounds, two 9 mm magazines and one R5 magazine, were found along with 25 R5 rounds and a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform.

Next to a large safe was a crate containing 12 types of explosives. Inside the locked safe, that the SAPS Technical Support Unit had to drill open, members recovered an R5 rifle, a handgun and a .22 rim fire long rifle inside, along with 684 9 mm rounds, 709 R5 rounds, 22 shotgun rounds, 400 .22 rounds, and 92 R1 rounds. Explosives experts and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) were contacted to the scene, and all the exhibits were seized.

The suspect was read his rights and was detained at the Heidelberg police station. Facing charges of possession of military uniform, explosives, unlicensed firearms, live ammunition and he is expected to appear before the Magistrate court soon, the EMPD said.