AK-47s, ammunition and three suspects
CCN Reporter – George April
CAPE TOWN:- City Law Enforcement officers made a significant firearms seizure in Crossroads this afternoon after community members reported a suspicious vehicle. 
While on patrol, LEAP officers were approached by residents who said a Ford Ranger bakkie had been repeatedly leaving and returning to the area and appeared to be waiting for something. Officers located the vehicle, secured its three occupants and conducted a thorough search.
Hidden inside, they found:
– 4 loaded AK-47 rifles
– 10 magazines containing 287 rounds of ammunition
– 1 loaded 9mm pistol with a further 62 rounds of ammunition
– Gloves and balaclavas
– False number plates already fitted to the vehicle
All three suspects were arrested and handed over to Nyanga SAPS for further investigation and prosecution.
The City described the operation as an exceptional arrest by dedicated LEAP officers. It once again highlighted the value of the LEAP programme, made possible through the partnership between the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, which funds the deployment of these officers.
By placing additional officers in the SAPS precincts most affected by violent crime, LEAP has provided operational support to under-resourced police stations and has removed dangerous criminals and illegal firearms from communities.
The combination of military-grade firearms, loaded magazines, false number plates, gloves and balaclavas strongly suggested the suspects were preparing to commit a serious offence. The arrest may well have prevented a violent crime from taking place.
The City noted, however, that while additional officers on the ground are making a tangible difference, their impact remains limited. Until municipalities are granted greater policing powers – including the authority to conduct investigations and prepare criminal dockets for prosecution – authorities will continue fighting crime with one hand tied behind their backs. Criminals must not only be arrested; they must also be successfully prosecuted and convicted if lasting gains are to be made against violent crime.
