NEWS & ANALYSIS

Glebelands task team arrest one, recover rifle

Suspect will also be profiled to established if he was involved in any of the murders

Glebelands task team arrest one, recover rifle

30 August 2017

Durban - Authorities which are part of a Glebelands Hostel Task Team have arrested one suspect and confiscated a high calibre firearm in Folweni, police said on Wednesday.

An intelligence driven operation at Ekukhanyeni Reserve, south of Durban on Tuesday night, led to the recovery of an R4 rifle with 61 live rounds of ammunition and three magazines, police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said.

A 27-year-old suspect was placed under arrest for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

"The firearm will subjected to ballistic tests to ascertain if it was used in any of the murders committed at Glebelands hostel or any other crimes in the country."

She said the suspect would also be profiled to establish if he was involved in any of the murders committed in Umlazi and surrounding areas.

KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Bheki Langa said the arrest showed that police deployed to Glebelands Hostel were determined to remove unlicensed firearms used in hostel killings.

"We will continue with such operations to bring peace and stability at the hostel. The fact that people have volunteered to be placed on the witness protection programme also bodes well for investigations that are currently underway," he said.

News24