SAPS spokesperson, Mmako Mophiring, told OFM News that the men seemed to be heading to the border gate to cross into a neighbouring country, and were caught at a roadblock in Ficksburg. Mophiring said when the taxi the suspects were commuting in from Johannesburg to Ficksburg was searched, an illegal firearm was found in a bag. Everyone denied ownership of it.

“It was a 22-seater Free State minibus. They searched all the passengers in that vehicle, but there were these particular passengers who were seated at the back who couldn’t own up a particular bag that was close to them. Everyone started pointing at each other, so we took all four of them because no one wanted to own that bag. So, upon searching the bag, we found that there was a 9mm pistol and 18 bullets”.

Mophiring said the four arrested men are expected to appear before the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 27 July 2022.

OFM News/Mpho Mohapi and Nomathamsanqa Mboyisi