Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has praised Eastern Cape law enforcement for a major weekend operation that uncovered a dangerous weapons cache in Port St Johns. The raids netted 10 AK-47 rifles, 100 rounds of ammunition, three shotguns, and a pistol, with three suspects arrested and a fourth still being pursued.
The sophisticated weapons, described by Mchunu as appearing “new,” are suspected to be connected to escalating taxi violence and cash-in-transit heists plaguing the region. “This seizure deals a critical blow to organized crime networks threatening our communities,” the Minister declared during flood assessment visits in Mthatha.
Mchunu simultaneously issued a stern warning to criminals exploiting recent flood disasters, vowing harsh action against looters preying on vulnerable residents. Eastern Cape Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Nomthetheleli Mene confirmed specialized units remain deployed to combat both organized crime and flood-related opportunism.
The breakthrough comes as authorities maintain heightened visibility across flood-ravaged areas, balancing disaster response with intensified anti-crime operations. Police have appealed for public assistance in tracking the remaining fugitive linked to the weapons haul.