ShotSpotter assisted with confiscation of illegal firearm
07 April 2025
In the past week, City enforcement agencies made 256 arrests and recorded 65 807 traffic and by-law offences. Metro Police officers also confiscated two illegal firearms in Manenberg.
On Saturday, 5 April 2025, Metro Police officers were on patrol in Manenberg when they received information via ShotSpotter of gun fire near Hilda Court in Manenberg. Upon arriving at Hilda Court, officers searched an adult male for the possession of an illegal firearm. While attempting to arrest the suspect, he became riotous and with the assistance from members of the public, he managed to escape. Officers found the abandoned 9mm Astra pistol with an empty magazine.
Officers then received a complaint from a member of the public of gangsters walking around with firearms in Vygieskraal Road, Manenberg. Upon arrival at the address, officers saw a male suspect running with a firearm in their hand. Officers immediately gave chase and apprehended the suspect and recovered a 9mm Ruger pistol with seven rounds of ammunition.
The 29-year-old male was arrested and detained on charges of the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition and detained at Manenberg South African Police Service.
Metro Police officers arrested 61 suspects, which included 22 for the illegal possession of drugs with the youngest suspect being 17 years old. Officers also issued 3 398 fines during weekly patrols.
Law Enforcement officers arrested 141 suspects and issued 6 163 notices in the past week.
On the roads, traffic officers arrested 54 motorists, of which 47 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, three for reckless and negligent driving and four for other transgressions, such as a stolen vehicle, false documentation and assault of an officer.
Officers also recorded 56 246 offences for various traffic violations, executed 997 warrants and impounded 245 public transport vehicles.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 606 incidents this weekend, including 561 medical calls, of which 80 were physical assault related cases. The centre also dealt with 39 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
The City’s enforcement agencies also assisted with safety and support services along the route of one of the biggest annual sporting events in Cape Town over the weekend – the Two Oceans Marathon, where no major traffic incidents were reported.
‘The swift follow up of ShotSpotter information in Manenberg over the weekend, which led to the confiscation of an illegal firearm, shows that our enforcement agencies successfully use technology in the prevention of crime. We would like to request members of the community to assist officers in providing information that could lead to arresting criminals and not assisting a suspect when officers need to execute the arrest – this would make those who assisted the suspect complicit in a criminal offence, Our officers will continue to arrest those who break the law and confiscate illegal firearms, which often find its way to other criminals, which could lead to serious offences and loss of life,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Residents are reminded to report criminal activities by phoning the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone and 107 from a landline.
Caption: Some of the firearms confiscated by enforcement officers in the past week.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
