Six arrested on the Ermelo road as police seize AK-47, two filed-off pistols and 31 rounds

Six suspects aged between 21 and 32 have been arrested and three unlicensed firearms with 31 rounds of ammunition recovered in an intelligence-driven operation in Ermelo, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a media statement issued from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner in Mpumalanga.

On Tuesday 27 October 2026, members of the Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the Anti-Hijacking Task Team and the Crime Prevention Unit in Gert Sibande District acted on information about a white Ford Ranger travelling from Barberton towards Ermelo. The vehicle was intercepted and searched.

Police recovered an AK-47 assault rifle and two pistols whose serial numbers had been filed off, together with the 31 rounds of ammunition.

A further search of the vehicle led to the recovery of four licensed firearms with more ammunition, reportedly belonging to one of the suspects, who is said to be the owner of a security company in KwaZulu-Natal.

The vehicle was seized for further investigation. All the confiscated firearms will be sent for ballistics tests to determine whether they were used in the commission of crimes, and police said they cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges as the investigation continues.

The six suspects face charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They are expected to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 29 October 2026.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise, commended the members involved for their swift response and urged communities to continue providing information that could assist police in removing illegal firearms from society.

The statement was issued by Sergeant Thulisile Magagula. The full SAPS media statement is published at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72089