Four arrested, two guns and 63 rounds seized in Nelson Mandela Bay weekend raids

Police arrested four men and confiscated two firearms and 63 live rounds of ammunition in separate operations across Nelson Mandela Bay over the weekend of 24 and 25 October 2026, the South African Police Service said in a statement from the Eastern Cape provincial commissioner’s office.

Operation Karabo, a joint initiative of the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, participating SAPS stations, SAPS Crime Intelligence and the South African National Defence Force, accounted for three of the arrests. The fourth came from the KwaZakhele Task Team in an unrelated case.

The first search took place on Saturday, 24 October, at about 19:00 at a premises in Kamanda Street, Airport Valley, Walmer, after information about a possible firearm and ammunition. Members found and confiscated 10 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition and arrested a 43-year-old man for illegal possession of ammunition.

Three hours later, at about 22:45, members executed a search warrant at a premises in Imbuia Street, Arcadia, Bethelsdorp. They recovered 22 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition and arrested another 43-year-old man for illegal possession of ammunition.

In the early hours of Sunday, 25 October, at about 03:00, the operation moved to GG Ground, Gqeberha, following information about the possible possession of a firearm and drugs. The search produced a Norinco pistol, 13 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition, a magazine and a holster. A third 43-year-old man was arrested for illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. SAPS Algoa Park is investigating that case.

The KwaZakhele Task Team’s arrest came earlier in the weekend. At about 18:06 on Saturday, members on patrol in Zwide received information about an allegedly armed man travelling in a silver Volkswagen Polo. The vehicle was spotted in Mpehla Street and its driver allegedly tried to evade police, leading to a pursuit. The car came to a stop and members apprehended the suspect, a 35-year-old man. A search recovered a 9 mm Norinco pistol with its serial number removed and 18 live rounds of ammunition. The vehicle was confiscated and a case of illegal possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition was opened for investigation by SAPS KwaZakhele.

SAPS said the removal of illegal firearms from the streets remains a priority because such weapons are frequently used in murders, attempted murders and armed robberies, and it credited intelligence-driven operations and cooperation with law enforcement partners for the weekend’s results.

Enquiries on the statement were directed to Captain Andre Beetge of the Eastern Cape provincial office. The full SAPS media statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72051.