No arrests after firearms cache discovered in Lentegeur

No arrests have been made, but police are questioning several people after they discovered 19 firearms, 1500 assorted rounds of ammunition, three gun safes, 26 magazines, a stun grenade, a silencer, and a shooting practice target board in Lentegeur.

On Monday, September 1, police teams uncovered the arms cache in Oak Way, Weltevreden Estate, Lentegeur.

The firearms and ammunition were concealed in cooler boxes and safes in the house, said Brigadier Novela Potelwa, Western Cape police spokesperson.

IOL reports reveal that the house is allegedly linked to the Fancy Boys gang, believed to be engaged in an ongoing rivalry that has resulted in sporadic shootings. Last week, gunmen opened fire outside the courthouse and police station, where one gang member was wounded and another killed, (“One man fatally shot in front of Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court" Plainsman August 25).

This followed a series of shootings in Mitchell’s Plain in which 10 people were killed and seven others wounded in attempted murders, according to IOL.

Brigadier Potelwa said the find is believed to be part of an orchestrated plan to fuel gang violence in several Cape Town communities. The firearms will be sent for ballistic testing as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police said targeted operations will continue until affected areas are stabilised.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile said removing the firearms was an important step. “Any firearm off the streets of Cape Town means a lot because firearms are the weapon of choice in murder and attempted murder cases recorded in gang violence shooting incidents,” said Lieutenant General Patekile.

Cape Flats Safety Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs said while the discovery was welcomed, questions remain. 

“We want to establish how many of those were state firearms and we further call for the commission of enquiry into gun violence. This will not stop us from calling for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a force multiplier,” said Mr Isaacs.

“We acknowledge that what we’ve been advocating for is the need for intelligence and lockdown approaches in hotspot areas. This week it was proven, and this should be the order of the day. There also needs to be a clear anti-gang strategy driven by the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS,” said Mr Isaacs.

Lentegeur Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Michael Jacobs said: “As the Lentegeur CPF, we commend SAPS on their intelligence-driven and integrated operation, which culminated in the recovery of several firearms and ammunition. This will go a long way to stem the tide of killings within the broader Mitchell’s Plain and to instill trust within the police,” said Mr Jacobs.