The City of Cape Town has strongly condemned a decision by the Athlone Magistrate’s Court to release three men on bail after they were caught in possession of high-powered automatic rifles, a handgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

The ruling has sparked heavy criticism from local officials, who argue that releasing such high-risk suspects back into the community severely undermines law enforcement initiatives aimed at curbing violent crime across the Cape Flats.

The three suspects were initially arrested earlier this year following a successful, intelligence-driven operation by the city’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers. Acting on a tip-off from members of the public, LEAP teams operating in Crossroads, Nyanga, intercepted a suspicious Ford Ranger.

A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered an extensive arms cache, including:Four high-powered rifles (including AK-47s), One 9mm pistol, Over 350 rounds of ammunition and Multiple cloned vehicle registration plates and suspicious electrical equipment

City officials praised the initial arrest as a crucial breakthrough that likely prevented imminent mass casualties.

However, local authorities were informed this week that the Athlone Magistrate’s Court has granted the three men bail of just R5,000 each, postponing the criminal trial until January next year.

The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, expressed deep frustration over the judicial outcome, noting that the decision was made despite strong formal opposition from the State prosecutor.

“The endless supply of illegal weapons on our streets is of great concern, and more so the appearance of high-powered rifles,” Smith stated. “This court ruling has undone the hard work by the LEAP teams to remove weapons and ammunition from our streets.”

The controversial ruling follows a devastating weekend in Cape Town where more than 30 people lost their lives in a series of mass shooting incidents across various communities.

Local leadership stressed that the majority of these tragedies are fueled by the unchecked flow of illegal, military-grade firearms.

While the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to investigate the exact origin of the weapons cache, city representatives have warned that Cape Town’s ongoing war against violent gang syndicates cannot be won if the criminal justice system permits dangerous suspects to walk free on low-cost bail.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content