Two in court over live R5 ammunition

MORE than a hundred R5 rifle bullets have been recovered in Dimbaza after police arrested two locals on Sunday evening.

The men appeared in the Dimbaza Magistrate’s Court on Monday facing charges of unlawful possession of ammunition. King William’s Town police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa yesterday confirmed the arrests, saying they were a result of a tip-off.

She said charges were withdrawn against one suspect while the other was released on warning and ordered to appear in court on May 29.

“Police followed up on information and found 11 R5 [bullets] hidden underneath a carpet.

“Thorough investigation led us to another house, in Dimbaza, where they found 99 bullets hidden in a headboard. The suspects were arrested,” Mawisa said.

She said police had yet to establish the link between these bullets and part of a haul, including automatic rifles and pistols, stolen from the Dimbaza Police Station in 2012.

The Daily Dispatch reported in November 2012 that three people, including a constable at the station, were arrested after more than 30 guns and ammunition went missing from the police station.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in September 2012, about 1 202 police firearms had gone missing since the beginning of 2011. —