Praktiseer woman nabbed for possession of unlicensed firearm

PRAKTISEER – A 48 year-old woman was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm in Praktiseer last week.

The woman was arrested during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by members of the SAPS Burgersfort Public Order Policing Unit at Shushumela Section.

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson, said information was received from a source that the woman was seen carrying an unlicensed firearm.

Ledwaba stated that the team visited the identified address where they found a man and thoroughly searched the premises but discovered nothing.

“The said person indicated that the firearm which the police were looking for belonged to his brother, who was out of the province. The person further said he only kept the firearm for a short period after his brother asked him to keep it safe while he was away. However, he indicated that he recently had to return it to his brother’s place. He then led the team to his brother’s place at the same section, where upon arrival, a woman was found and she pointed out the 9mm Norinco pistol, with a magazine and eight live ammunition, inside a wardrobe, which she claimed belonged to her husband,” explained Ledwaba.

He added that the woman was arrested and detained at Tubatse Police Station. The woman was scheduled to appear before the Praktiseer Magistrate’s Court last Thursday on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. However, the case was not enrolled at the court.

The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, remarked “We will persist in making progress and increase our efforts to make sure that firearms are kept out of the wrong hands.”