Four arrested in Ngqeleni as police recover four guns, two with serial numbers erased

Eastern Cape police arrested four men and recovered four firearms in an intelligence-driven operation in Ngqeleni at about 03:00 on Friday, 09 October 2026.

The South African Police Service said the operation was carried out jointly by OR Tambo District Task Teams based in Lusikisiki and Mthatha. The four suspects are aged between 32 and 54. The account below is drawn from the SAPS media statement on the operation, which is a summary of the incidents rather than the underlying case docket.

At Zinyosini locality in Maqebevu A/A, a 35-year-old man was arrested at his homestead for possession of an unlicensed Uzi submachine gun with four live rounds of ammunition. The teams then went to the homestead of a 37-year-old man in the same locality, who was arrested for unlawful possession of an unlicensed 9mm Beretta pistol, also with four live rounds. Both firearms had their serial numbers erased.

In two unrelated incidents at Ntshilini locality, also in Maqebevu A/A, two men aged 51 and 54 were arrested at separate homesteads for unlawful possession of a prohibited homemade shotgun each. Each shotgun had one live shell.

All four suspects are due to appear before the Ngqeleni Magistrates Court on Monday, 12 October 2026, each facing their respective charges.

The Uzi and the 9mm pistol will be sent for ballistic tests to establish whether they have been used in criminal activities before.

Major General Norman Modishana, the OR Tambo District Commissioner, applauded the task teams for what the statement described as their hard work and determination in fighting the proliferation of unlicensed and prohibited firearms in the district.

Source: South African Police Service, Four suspects arrested for possession of illegal and prohibited firearms in Ngqeleni