/ 22 March 2005

Huge arms cache discovered in KZN Midlands

KwaZulu-Natal police officers have discovered a large cache of arms hidden in a shallow grave in the Midlands on Monday. Some of the ammunition included 43 M26 hand and rifle grenades and 60mm mortar barrels and magazines of various types, Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said on Tuesday morning.

”Somebody stumbled on the grave, they thought someone was buried there and contacted the cops. On investigating [they] found it was arms,” Naidoo said.

He said it was difficult to say when or by whom it had been hidden, but there was a team of professionals investigating the matter.

”The South African Police Service is determined to establish the origin of these grenades and ammunition and will not hesitate in prosecuting anyone responsible for burying this arms cache.”

Naidoo reminded the public of the arms amnesty, announced by the Minister for Safety and Security Charles Nqakula, which ends on March 31.

”We urge members of the community to take full advantage of this offer and hand in all illegal weapons, failing which they will be dealt with severely in terms of the law on termination of the amnesty.” – Sapa