Correction / Update — 18 February 2026, 09:20

This article has been updated after police confirmed that 537 licensed firearms and ammunition were seized from a Middelburg gun dealer who was arrested for failing to comply with the Firearms Control Act. The weapons were found at an unlicensed storage facility on a plot near eMalahleni after investigators followed up on information about expired licences linked to a security company.

Police have since conducted 3 728 compliance inspections at business premises, including gun dealers and security companies, under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

The National Tracking and Tracing Task Team, operating under OPERATION BUYISA, arrested a 55-year-old gun dealer from Middelburg for failing to comply with the Act. A total of 537 licensed firearms and ammunition were subsequently seized.

According to a preliminary report, the team acted on information regarding a security company allegedly operating in Middelburg with expired firearm licences. Further investigation led the team to a plot on the outskirts of eMalahleni, following interviews with a gun dealer who reportedly stored the company’s firearms. At the plot, investigators found a large quantity of licensed firearms and ammunition stored at an unlicensed facility. The gun dealer had reportedly run out of storage space at the registered business premises.

Investigations are ongoing to establish full ownership and whether any additional offences were committed.

South Africa continues to face challenges with illegal and unregistered firearms circulating in communities. Thousands of unregistered guns are seized annually, and many lost or stolen service weapons remain unaccounted for, highlighting broader challenges in controlling illegal arms within the country.