CRIME SCENE: Hanover Park, Cape Town: The South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested a teenager after catching him red handed with a gun on Thursday, 2 July 2026.

The Anti-Gang Unit were conducting patrols in Hanover Park to combat gang violence when they noticed a suspicious-looking male walking in the road. When he saw the police, he started to run.

SAPS said the members chased after the suspect, apprehended him, and searched him. They found a .22 pistol with 13 rounds of ammunition in his possession. The 19-year-old suspect was arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The members then went on to search a premises, also in the Hanover Park area, and confiscated 100 Mandrax tablets and 10 rounds of ammunition, which they found in the house. They arrested a 38-year-old suspect for the possession of Mandrax and the illegal possession of ammunition.

SAPS said this formed part of crime prevention interventions to safeguard communities and remove firearms from the hands of criminals.