Major Firearms Bust in Margate
In a swift operation that highlights the ongoing fight against illegal firearms in KwaZulu-Natal, police arrested four men in Uvongo near Margate after a stolen vehicle tracker led them to a hidden cache of high-powered weapons. The bust, which took place on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, uncovered assault rifles, pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, underscoring the dangers of organised crime in the region.
The incident began when a vehicle tracking company alerted authorities to suspicious activity at a property in Uvongo, a quiet coastal suburb on the South Coast. Officers from the Ugu District Operational Response Services, working hand-in-hand with private security teams, responded quickly to the scene. This collaboration proved crucial in locating the suspects and preventing potential harm to the community.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on the tracker signal, police arrived at the address and spotted a white double cab Ford Ranger parked inside the garage. A closer look revealed discrepancies: the number plates did not match the details on the licence disc. Further checks confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen from Phoenix, a suburb north of Durban, in August 2025. This discovery set off a chain of events that exposed a much larger threat.
“Police officers together with a vehicle tracking company proceeded to the given address where they found four men,” explained KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza in a statement released on Thursday, 25 September 2025.
The four suspects, aged between 30 and 41, were inside the premises. With permission to search, officers combed the property and made a shocking find. Hidden away were several unlicensed firearms, including military-grade weapons often linked to serious crimes like hijackings and robberies in the province.
The Weapons Cache: A Serious Threat Uncovered
The haul was impressive and alarming in equal measure. Police seized an AK-47 assault rifle loaded with 106 rounds of ammunition, an R4 assault rifle with 70 rounds, a .303 rifle complete with 12 live rounds, and two pistols holding a total of 22 rounds. These weapons, if used on the streets, could have caused significant harm, especially in a region already grappling with high rates of violent crime.
Experts note that AK-47s and R4 rifles are favoured by criminals for their firepower and reliability. The R4, a South African-made assault rifle, is typically used by security forces, raising questions about how it ended up in illegal hands. The .303 rifle, an older model, is less common but still deadly, while the pistols suggest the group may have been prepared for close-range confrontations.
This bust adds to a growing list of firearm recoveries in KwaZulu-Natal. Just last month, provincial police operations led to the seizure of over 180 firearms and nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition across the province, with thousands of arrests in anti-crime drives. Such efforts are part of a national push to curb the flow of illegal guns, which fuel everything from gang violence to farm attacks.
Arrests and Charges: What Happens Next
The four men were taken into custody on the spot without incident. They now face multiple charges, including possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, possession of unlicensed firearms, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Police have not released their names yet, as investigations continue to determine if they are linked to other crimes in the area.
They are scheduled to appear in the Hibberdene Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 26 September 2025, where prosecutors will outline the case. Authorities have hinted that more charges could follow if forensic tests or further probes reveal ties to broader criminal networks. Ballistics experts will examine the weapons to check for matches in unsolved cases, a process that could take weeks.
Lieutenant Colonel Magwaza praised the teamwork involved, saying it showed how public-private partnerships can make a real difference in keeping communities safe. “The registration fitted on the vehicle did not match the one on the licence disc. Quick investigation revealed that the vehicle had been stolen in Phoenix in August this year,” he added, emphasising the role of technology like vehicle trackers in modern policing.
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