/ 1 January 2002

There’s a friendly Spar wherever you are

A loaded AK47 rifle was recovered by police in the Alice Spar supermarket owned by Michael Stofile, brother of Eastern Cape premier Makhenkesi Stofile, East London police said on Monday.

Inspector Mluleki Mxutu said on Tuesday the assault rifle was recovered after a tip-off in a section of the store marked ”Customer Care.”

Stofile was not present. He was apparently out of town on business.

Mxutu said Stofile’s wife, Busisiwe, told police she knew nothing about the weapon nor how it had come to be on the premises.

The weapon was sent for ballistic tests to see if it could be linked to any crimes.

”Once we have received a ballistic report we may be able to shed some light on the matter,” Mxutu said. – Sapa