152 Firearms Seized from Security Companies in Investigation of Phoenix Massacre, says Bheki Cele

Tuesday, August 03, 2021 at 2:52 PM by Lebogang Mashego

Minister of Police Bheki Cele says police have confiscated firearms from security companies in Phoenix
The firearms in question have been taken as part of the investigations into the murders that took place during the unrest
An additional 112 illegal firearms have also been confiscated by the police from people in the surrounding areas of Phoenix

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Police Minister Bheki Cele says 152 firearms belonging to four private security companies that operated in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, have been taken for examination following the unrest that claimed the lives of 36 people.

152 Firearms Seized, Phoenix Security Companies, Phoenix Massacre, Minister of Police Bheki Cele, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban — Minister of Police Bheki Cele says the police have seized152 firearms from security companies as investigations into the Phoenix massacre are underway. Image: Darren Stewart
Source: UGC

“Working with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, the investigators have seized 152 firearms from four private security companies working in the area,” said Cele, according to a quote by SowetanLive.

Task team of 31 detectives set up to investigate Phoenix vigilante justice

Cele announces that 112 firearms were seized from civilians

Cele went onto say that an additional 112 illegal firearms have been seized from individuals throughout the area during police operations since the violent protests began and the firearms have gone in for ballistic testing.

"The seizure of these firearms is within the law of the Firearms Control Act. The firearms have been sent for ballistic analysis,” stated Cele.

Police Minister Bheki Cele gives details on the violence that took place in Phoenix

Bheki Cele says illegal roadblocks had been set up in Phoenix to target a certain race

Cele stated that community members set up illegal roadblocks to prevent entry into Phoenix, resulting in killings, violence, shootings as well as assault of people based on race, according to SABC News.

"Some set up armed search points and the situation rapidly deteriorated with some people being racially profiled at search points," Cele said, according to a quote by IOL.

He stated that the illegal roadblocks mainly affected African people. A few of those who died as a result of the violence in Phoenix were of Indian descent.