A man appears in court after the recovery of a cache of illegal weapons in Mpumalanga. Picture Credit: Collett Read LLP
By Aisha Zardad
Carolina – A 62-year-old man has been remanded in custody after police seized a cache of illegal firearms and more than 1 000 rounds of ammunition during an intelligence-driven operation in Carolina, Mpumalanga.
The suspect, identified as Frederick Jakobus Botha, appeared in the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 14 January 2026. The case has been postponed to 19 January for a formal bail application, and Botha will remain in custody until then.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, Mpumalanga police spokesperson, officers recovered 13 unlicensed firearms at a farm during the operation. The haul included self-manufactured firearms, rifles, a shotgun and several handguns. In addition, police seized more than 1 000 rounds of ammunition and blanks.
Ndubane said Botha was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his possession of the weapons and ammunition. Police have indicated that they may pursue additional charges as the investigation continues.
In a separate incident on the same day, police in Carolina recovered about 260 kg of dagga valued at an estimated R1.5 million from a Botswana-registered vehicle after a short pursuit. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot and has not yet been located.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information via the MySAPS App.
