A case of possession of suspected stolen and abandoned firearms is under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pienaar, following a dramatic incident on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, that led to the recovery of three rifles and ammunition.
The operation began when police received intelligence about a group of individuals allegedly transporting firearms from Mataffin, near Nelspruit, to Pienaar in a white Nissan NP300 bakkie. Acting on this information, a police officer located the vehicle in the Mkhatsini (Karino) area and began following it while alerting colleagues from the Pienaar SAPS.
As the bakkie neared Moyeni Mall, it slowed down, allowing two male passengers seated in the rear to jump out with a white bag. The suspects subsequently fled on foot into nearby bushes, while the vehicle sped away from the scene.
During the pursuit of the suspects, police discovered two bags of maize meal that had been left behind. A search of these bags revealed a significant cache of weapons, which included three rifles and 25 rounds of ammunition.
The recovered items are as follows:
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One brown rifle
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One black Gladiator shotgun with a black shoulder belt
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One brown rifle fitted with a black zoom scope and a brown shoulder belt
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One black waist ammunition belt
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Two green shotgun rounds (70/35)
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Seventeen red shotgun rounds (GB 12/70 28g)
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Six white shotgun rounds (28g 67mm)
A subsequent police investigation confirmed that all the recovered firearms had been reported stolen during a recent residential burglary in White River.
Authorities are now appealing to the public for assistance. Anyone with information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects is urged to contact the SAPS Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Information can also be submitted anonymously via the MySAPSApp. All tip-offs will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.