Three young men with parents in the South African Navy appeared briefly in court on Monday in connection with an audacious burglary of the country’s biggest naval base at Simon’s Town.
Automatic weapons‚ hand grenades and ammunition were stolen from the base just over a week ago‚ raising fears that that hardware would end up in the hands of criminals or gangs.
Three people were arrested shortly afterwards in an intelligence-led investigation and the goods were recovered.
The men did not have the appearance of being hardened criminals when they stood in the dock at the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Duncan Gouviac‚ 21‚ and Dillon Sewkumar‚ 18‚ are facing charges of housebreaking‚ theft and the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms‚ ammunitions and explosives. Their fathers are members of the navy.
Electricial engineering student Karabo Ramakgopa‚ 18‚ is facing a charge of being in possession of a prohibited firearm allegedly stolen from the base. His mother works for the navy.
Their defence argued for bail to be granted on Monday as they were first-time offenders and due to their age. The court‚ however‚ postponed their bail hearing until August 8 and they will remain in custody.
The burglary proved to be highly embarrassing for the navy‚ with Western Cape Minister of Community Safety‚ Dan Plato‚ demanding to know from Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula how security at the base – a national key point – was so easily breached.
Three in court for navy base weapons theft
Three young men with parents in the South African Navy appeared briefly in court on Monday in connection with an audacious burglary of the country’s biggest naval base at Simon’s Town.
Automatic weapons‚ hand grenades and ammunition were stolen from the base just over a week ago‚ raising fears that that hardware would end up in the hands of criminals or gangs.
Three people were arrested shortly afterwards in an intelligence-led investigation and the goods were recovered.
The men did not have the appearance of being hardened criminals when they stood in the dock at the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Duncan Gouviac‚ 21‚ and Dillon Sewkumar‚ 18‚ are facing charges of housebreaking‚ theft and the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms‚ ammunitions and explosives. Their fathers are members of the navy.
Electricial engineering student Karabo Ramakgopa‚ 18‚ is facing a charge of being in possession of a prohibited firearm allegedly stolen from the base. His mother works for the navy.
Their defence argued for bail to be granted on Monday as they were first-time offenders and due to their age. The court‚ however‚ postponed their bail hearing until August 8 and they will remain in custody.
The burglary proved to be highly embarrassing for the navy‚ with Western Cape Minister of Community Safety‚ Dan Plato‚ demanding to know from Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula how security at the base – a national key point – was so easily breached.
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