DURBAN, South Africa — A 71-year-old Durban resident, Mbangiseni Ndlovu, has been remanded in custody after allegations arose that he manufactured and sold illegal firearms to foreign nationals.
The arrest was the result of an intelligence — led operation by the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) eThekwini District Tracing Team, which occurred in the Katutura informal settlement of Cato Manor on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, Ndlovu faced the Durban Magistrate’s Court, where he was kept in custody pending ongoing investigations. He is anticipated to seek bail next week. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Amanda Funani, revealed that police officers were acting on information suggesting Ndlovu was producing and dealing in unlicensed firearms from his residence.
During the operation, authorities seized three 9mm firearms, two homemade guns, and equipment linked to the production of illegal weapons.
According to police reports, the firearms were allegedly marketed to foreign nationals, with estimates suggesting the weapons were sold for approximately R2,000 each. It is alleged that Ndlovu had been involved in the illegal firearms trade for some time, targeting non-South African buyers particularly since late June.
The arrest coincides with heightened tensions surrounding immigration, with 30 June serving as an unofficial deadline for some protest groups calling for foreign nationals to depart the country.
The incident has been noted by eNCA Specialist Correspondent Yusuf Abramjee, who emphasized the ongoing challenge of illegal firearms in South Africa, where thousands of such weapons remain in circulation, contributing to violent crimes. Abramjee expressed concern over the ease with which illegal firearms are being sold to foreign nationals, who can be challenging to trace if they leave the country, thereby complicating the pursuit of justice.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: enca
Source: Nokuthula Khanyile
