By Akani Nkuna
Stolen military weapons were recovered in Mooiplaas, Pretoria, on Tuesday during a joint operation by the South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Service.
In a statement, the SANDF said the operation followed an intelligence report and was led by the Thaba Tshwane Military Police Area Office’s Northern Military Police Region Specialist Investigation Team, supported by six SAPS members.
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The recovery followed a break-in at a storage room at Tek Base on 27 April, when a burglar forcefully entered the storeroom and stole three R4 rifles and a grenade launcher, the SANDF said.
The break-in was discovered by a SANDF member who was returning from an official funeral in Mahikeng, North West.
A burglary case was opened with SAPS, after which investigations began.
The SANDF said multiple grenade launchers and an R4 assault rifle were recovered during the operation, while three suspects were arrested.
The suspects appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on 8 June, where they were denied bail.
On 17 June, the same team leading the operation arrested a male foreign national and recovered one multiple grenade launcher. The suspect made his first court appearance on Tuesday, 23 June.
The SANDF said it remained committed to pursuing the remaining suspects and recovering the outstanding weapons.
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