A member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) after a steel box containing guns, ammunition, and explosives was seized from his house.
The SAPS said the 51-year-old man was arrested by the Anti-Gang Unit in connection with the discovery on Saturday, 28 February, following a tipoff that he was keeping guns at his premises in Delphi Road on the Cape Flats.
Anti-Gant Unit member went to the house in question and found it empty but continued searching and in one room, under a carpet, a member saw concrete with plastic sticking out. The Anti-Gang Unit members then broke the concrete with a sledge hammer after which they found a steel box buried in the ground, the SAPS said.
Inside the box they found blank cartridges, 7.62 mm and 5.65 mm rifle cartridges, a 9 mm imitation firearm, a Beretta Z88 9 mm pistol, components of an AR-15 assault rifle, magazines, nitrocellulose, a scope, laptops, cell phones, and a Claymore anti-personnel mine.
According to Captain FC van Wyk, provincial police spokesperson, the soldier was arrested after he arrived home and identified himself as the house owner. He was charged with the possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives and transported to Ravensmead police station.
Benedicta van Minnen, Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, said the arrest of the soldier “has raised serious and troubling questions” after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the SANDF will be deployed to the Cape Flats to fight gangsterism in the Western Cape.
“The deployment of the army into civilian communities is not a simple solution, and our defence force is not without their own governance and operational shortcomings. While the fight against gangsterism requires decisive action, it also demands accountability and oversight,” van Minnen said.
“Provinces do not currently have sufficient oversight mechanisms in place to hold the Army accountable when deployed internally. Our Standing Committee on Police Oversight and Community Safety, has a constitutional duty to safeguard our residents. However, our direct oversight over SANDF operations is limited, as the Defence Force is a national competency.”
“If instances arise where residents’ rights are infringed upon, where force is excessive, or where misconduct occurs, what mechanisms are available at provincial level to intervene swiftly and effectively? How do we protect our communities not only from gangs, but also from potential abuse of power? Our communities deserve protection from violent criminals. But they also deserve constitutional safeguards and accountable governance,” van Minnen said.
