RESIDENTS of Buffelsdraai in Verulam, north of Durban, are shocked that a 14-year-old boy was found with an unlicensed 9mm pistol with two live rounds.
The boy, who cannot be named because he is under age and is yet to appear in court, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
He had allegedly fired several shots in the air "to show" friends that he was carrying a real gun.
The boy allegedly got the gun in Claremont, more than 30kilometres away from Buffelsdraai.
Resident Zanele Dlamini said the boy disappeared for a few days and returned with the gun.
"He stays with his granny and is a loose cannon. He does as he pleases. I was called by neighbours on Wednesday who informed me that he was firing randomly. I called the police. When they arrived, he had already hidden the gun in the bush," she said.
She said police interrogated him and he pointed out where he had hidden the weapon.
"He told the police that he stole it from a safe in Claremont. We don't know what he was going to do with it," she said.
Police spokesperson, Captain Mandla Khumalo, confirmed the incident.
He said police received information that the boy was armed with a firearm.
"When they arrived at his home, he led them to where he had hidden it and was arrested. He told police there were other weapons in Claremont, but when police went there, they could not find any," said Khumalo.
Khumalo said police were still investigating how the boy got the weapon. He added police were concerned by the escalating crime in the area.
Boy, 14, bust after firing gun randomly
RESIDENTS of Buffelsdraai in Verulam, north of Durban, are shocked that a 14-year-old boy was found with an unlicensed 9mm pistol with two live rounds.
The boy, who cannot be named because he is under age and is yet to appear in court, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
He had allegedly fired several shots in the air "to show" friends that he was carrying a real gun.
The boy allegedly got the gun in Claremont, more than 30kilometres away from Buffelsdraai.
Resident Zanele Dlamini said the boy disappeared for a few days and returned with the gun.
"He stays with his granny and is a loose cannon. He does as he pleases. I was called by neighbours on Wednesday who informed me that he was firing randomly. I called the police. When they arrived, he had already hidden the gun in the bush," she said.
She said police interrogated him and he pointed out where he had hidden the weapon.
"He told the police that he stole it from a safe in Claremont. We don't know what he was going to do with it," she said.
Police spokesperson, Captain Mandla Khumalo, confirmed the incident.
He said police received information that the boy was armed with a firearm.
"When they arrived at his home, he led them to where he had hidden it and was arrested. He told police there were other weapons in Claremont, but when police went there, they could not find any," said Khumalo.
Khumalo said police were still investigating how the boy got the weapon. He added police were concerned by the escalating crime in the area.