RESIDENTS of Batho in Mangaung, Free State were shocked after an arsenal of deadly ammunition was found at a soldier’s house on Thursday.
The soldier was arrested after the bullets were discovered in his bedroom.
This is after a special task force from Bloemfontein received a tip-off regarding the suspect’s collection of ammunition.
To his neighbours, the 34- year-old suspect was a successful soldier who had climbed the army’s ranks and became a lieutenant at a young age.
To them, he was a dedicated soldier who was prepared to fight for his country. One of the residents said: “People were shocked when they saw heavily armed cops rushing into the soldier’s house on Thursday.
“Some of the kids in the neighbourhood even wanted to be like him when they grew up.
“None of us knew he was hiding such a dark secret. There was a big, brown container in his bedroom.
“That’s where he kept all his illegal ammunition.”
According to SAPS spokeswoman Sergeant Ikobeng Hlubi, the crime intelligence unit made the shocking discovery.
“The members went to raid and search the house of a 34-year-old suspect who is believed to be a member of the South African National Defence Force.
“Cops were acting on a tip-off they had received about the ammunition hidden by the suspect.
“The suspect was arrested and is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court soon.”
Hlubi said the suspect was found with 33 R5 rifle rounds, two ballistic R5 rifle rounds, one 9mm short round, four 9mm Parabellum pistol live rounds and one 20 mm Hei round.
He was also found in possession of a telescope and two hand grenades. It is not clear what the suspect was intending to do with the weapons.
Investigations are underway to determine why the soldier had so much ammunition.
