SAPS Recovers 15 000 Rounds of Anglo-Boer War Ammunition Worth R7 Million in De Aar

• Municipal employees in Sunrise, De Aar, stumbled upon crates of ammunition near Malay Camp on 6 October 2026
• The roughly 15 000 rounds of .303 ammunition are believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War era
• SAPS, the Explosives Unit, K9 Unit and military personnel worked together to secure the area by 9 October 2026

DE AAR, NORTHERN CAPE— Municipal workers in Sunrise, De Aar, made a remarkable and unsettling find on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, when they stumbled upon crates of old ammunition near Malay Camp. The South African Police Service has since recovered approximately 15 000 rounds of .303 ammunition, believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War, with an estimated value of R7 million.

The discovery triggered a swift response from multiple law enforcement units. The Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), Explosives Unit, K9 Unit, and Sunrise detectives all descended on the area, with military personnel later joining the operation. By Friday, 9 October 2026, the full recovery was complete, and the area was declared safe.

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Anglo-Boer war relics unearthed

The .303 rounds are consistent with ammunition used during the Anglo-Boer War, a conflict fought in South Africa between 1899 and 1902 in which black soldiers also fought. If confirmed as authentic wartime relics, the cache would represent one of the most significant historical ammunition finds in recent South African history. Investigations remain ongoing, and authorities have not yet confirmed the precise origin of the crates.

SAPS has urged the public not to touch, handle, or tamper with any suspected ammunition or explosives they may encounter. Anyone who comes across suspicious items is asked to report them to the police immediately.

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Mzansi reacts to the find

The discovery quickly sparked conversation on X, with South Africans weighing in on what should happen to the ammunition next.

@Ciccioline3 raised concerns about the security of the cache:

"At what point do they get stolen/lost and found with zama zamas after 3 months?"

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@Sihle_ZA_ posed a legal question worth considering:

"Out of curiosity, will they be historical artefacts or evidence?"

@Karlreddy had a clear view on the matter:

"If historic? They should be disarmed and kept in a museum."

@ExposeIT was struck by the sheer scale of the find:

"That's a huge cache of arms and ammo."

@PikasoZealot urged transparency going forward:

"Investigation may uncover a lot. Keep South Africans updated."

SAPS seizes R9 million in counterfeit goods

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the SAPS raid in Marabastad, where officers seized more than 10,000 counterfeit goods valued at over R9 million.

The operation followed a separate raid in Johannesburg CBD that uncovered counterfeit Springbok merchandise and illicit manufacturing equipment. Despite the seizures, some South Africans questioned whether the raids would stop sellers from returning to business.

Source: Briefly News