Man arrested for unlicensed firearm at Pietermaritzburg gang leader’s funeral
|Published
A man was arrested at the funeral of Pietermaritzburg gang leader, Sphelele Ntsuntsu Mkhize, armed with an unlicensed firearm on Saturday. Man arrested for unlicensed firearm at the PMB gang leader funeral. Picture: supplied
DURBAN - A MAN was arrested at the funeral of Pietermaritzburg gang leader, Sphelele Ntsuntsu Mkhize, armed with an unlicensed firearm on Saturday.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said just before 11am, police officers had been conducting a crime-prevention operation, near the Machibisa Spar complex, and monitoring Mkhize’s funeral.
Mkhize was among the seven people that were killed during a shoot-out with the police in Scottsville, over a week ago.
Mbele said while they were conducting the stop and search operation of the people attending the funeral, a 9mm pistol was recovered with a magazine loaded with eight rounds from one of the mourners.
She said that when checking the firearm licence of the suspect, it was established that the ID number on his driver's licence did not correspond with that on the firearm licence.
Mbele said the suspect was immediately placed under arrest and was taken to Plessislaer police station for further processing.
“He will appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on Monday, June 14, facing possession of unlawful firearm and ammunition charges,” she said.
According to the police, Mkhize was the mastermind behind the prison escape that took place earlier this year.
The seven suspects were accused of terrorising the Pietermaritzburg and KZN communities and were linked with a number of violent activities, including taxi violence.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele who visited the scene two weeks ago issued a stern warning to criminals, stating that more operations would be held and more arrests were expected.
THE MERCURY