Firearms found in a ‘safe’ place

Police baffled by arms cache found in safe in Pietermaritzburg CBD building.

A cache of eight revolvers containing live ammunition was discovered in a safe at the Selgro Centre in the Pietermaritzburg city centre on Tuesday.

Police and members of Project CAT were on the scene to remove the firearms.The manager of the building together with a spokesperson from a refurbishing company, who wished to remain anonymous, were in the process of demolishing and stripping the building when they discovered a safe, that should have been removed by the previous residents, containing the weapons. The building manager confirmed that the building was locked before being stripped.

“It is alleged that a security company had previously occupied the building but had moved out around the end of May with the premises being vacant since then. It is still unclear if the firearms were left behind intentionally or unintentionally,” said police spokesperson Mthokozisi Ngobese.

Ngobese confirmed that the weapons would be taken to ballistics to verify if it had been used in any criminal activity.

“We are hoping to find the owners of the firearm and they will be charged for negligence,” added Ngobese.

According to the Firearms Act any firearm must be in the possession of the person who holds the licence or situated at the individual’s residence in a safe.

Warrant officer Ravie Pather together with members of the Combined Action Team (CAT)removed the evidence together with the safe that the firearms were found in.