Cape Town - City of Cape Town metro police officers arrested a 23-year-old man on Friday morning for possessing an imitation firearm, which he had hidden in a waist training belt.
The City's metro police spokesperson, Ruth Solomons, said the drug and task team unit had been on patrol in Hanover Park on Friday when they spotted three males walking towards them who looked suspicious.
The men gave the officers permission to search them, and one of the officers felt an object around the waist of one of them.
“The suspect confessed that he had an imitation firearm on his person that was held in place by a waist training belt.
“He was arrested and taken to the Philippi police station, where a detailed search revealed a live 9mm round of ammunition in his right takkie,” Solomons said.
He was charged with possession of an imitation firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.
There were many reactions online after news of the ‘zip gun’ spread.
On social media, some of the comments included:
– "The lock is to make it sound like he is cocking the gun"
– “A lock for your glock”
– "If you lost the key for that lock then the gun is no used.“
– “This weapon might be the joke for many but this is where the stray bullets comes from that's killing our children.”
– "This guy is a genius. South African Engineering.“
– “That’s actually a real gun, the lock features as a ‘finger’ so the shooters finger print don’t get on the trigger, the tape play a similar role, so prints wont be on the gun, reason for one bullet are simple.. The magazine's button are taped shut (also so no prints will be on the magazine) at the back of the locks sliding pin should be a pin that imitates a finger. That’s actually a hitman’s gun and not a amateur hitman but one who knows he wont miss, usually used at close range/point blank. That’s how most killers gets free because there are no concrete evidence against them only hear say stories and we all know that don’t stick in a court.”
If i get robbed with a fake gun, i won't forgive myself.... E go too pain me 😩😩😩 https://t.co/o2zS765Vti
— Ndyfreke (@Ndy__freke) February 5, 2022
G-LOCK😂 https://t.co/KU1YH97GBM
— AKHONA (@Xhamela21) February 5, 2022
Man said locked and loaded https://t.co/QtPmZpE71R
As someone that grew up in Hanover Park I can only say that ya'll haven't seen the half of it. 🥴 https://t.co/pahsqXvNiN
— Sheldon Cameron (@sheldon_cameron) February 5, 2022
Cape Town gangsters are built different fr😭 https://t.co/9zYiKicI8J
— 𝐒𝐄𝐖𝐀 (@sewa__abrahams) February 4, 2022