Simon Nare

Simon Nare

Barely two months after being reinstated, an Ekurhuleni metro police officer was bust red-handed selling ammunition.

This is the second time the 55-year-old officer has been arrested within a year for the same offence. In December he was allegedly caught with ammunition and R10000 in counterfeit money.

His case was thrown out of court because of insufficient evidence. Vital information had gone missing from his docket and the state ruled that the case could not be prosecuted.

Ekurhuleni metro spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said the officer was reinstated about six weeks ago.

Internal disciplinary action was still under way, but the officer had to be reinstated under an agreement with the South African Local Government Association (Salga).

"In terms of a Salga agreement, an employee cannot be suspended for more than three months, even when a criminal investigation is still under way," Kgasago said.

The disciplinary action might now be put on hold to allow for the criminal process to unfold.

Kgasago said metro and SAPS officers were acting on a tip-off when they stopped the officer outside Actonville hostel at about 7pm on Monday. He was in full uniform, but driving his private car.

They found 133 rounds for an AK-47 and 103 rounds of 9mm ammunition in his possession.

Sergeant Sanku Tsunke said the officer will appear in the Germiston magistrate's court today.