The South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out 3,728 compliance inspections at businesses including gun dealers and security companies this week as part of enforcement actions under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
The National Tracking and Tracing Task Team, operating under Operation Buyisa, arrested a 55-year-old gun dealer from Middelburg for alleged non-compliance with the legislation. Authorities subsequently seized 537 licensed firearms and associated ammunition.
According to a preliminary police report, the operation was initiated based on intelligence regarding a security company allegedly operating in Middelburg with expired firearm licences.
Investigators reportedly interviewed a gun dealer who was storing firearms for the security company. This led the team to a plot on the outskirts of eMalahleni, where they discovered a large quantity of licensed firearms and ammunition.
Police confirmed that the location was being used as a storage facility without the required licence. The gun dealer allegedly moved the firearms to the plot due to a lack of storage space at his registered business premises.
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