Police in Welkom arrested a 13-year-old boy in the Thabong neighbourhood after following up on information that someone in the area had a firearm. Officers from the Welkom Public Order Policing (POP) platoon located the address, gave chase when the boy tried to flee and later recovered a Norinco pistol together with seven live rounds of ammunition.
How the arrest unfolded
Police said intelligence led officers to a house in Thabong. When members arrived they observed a youth jumping over a fence; he was pursued on foot and apprehended in a nearby open field. A search reportedly found the pistol and seven rounds on his person.
"It was then established that the suspect was a minor," police said, adding that preliminary inquiries suggested the firearm belonged to the boy's grandfather and that the locked safe had been broken into to obtain it.
Because the detainee is a child, a probation officer was involved and the required documentation was completed, police said. The boy's mother was informed of the circumstances and he was released under parental supervision. He is expected to appear in the Welkom Magistrate's Court this week.
Legal and child-welfare procedures followed
Authorities emphasised the involvement of juvenile-care processes: a probation officer was brought in and police said they complied with the necessary formalities when dealing with a minor in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The matter has been recorded and will proceed through the magistrate’s court system.
Items reportedly recovered:
- Firearm: Norinco pistol
- Ammunition: Seven live rounds
Context and public-safety implications
The case raises questions about firearm storage and access in households where weapons are present. Police said the firearm was kept in a safe but preliminary findings indicate the safe had been broken into. Under the Firearms Control Act, owners are obligated to store guns and ammunition securely to prevent unauthorised access; failure to do so can give rise to criminal liability.
Incidents involving minors and firearms draw both criminal and social-welfare responses. The involvement of a probation officer and the boy’s release to parental supervision reflect procedures intended to balance public safety with child-protection obligations.
What residents should know
- Owners of firearms must ensure secure storage and keep guns and ammunition separate, as required by law.
- Anyone with information about illegal firearms can contact the local police or make use of community-tip lines to assist investigators.
- When minors are involved, police work with probation services and the courts to follow juvenile justice protocols.
Police did not provide further details about the grandfather or whether any charges beyond the boy’s possession are being considered at this stage. The court appearance in Welkom will clarify the next steps in the legal process.
Officers attached to the Welkom POP platoon were conducting routine crime-prevention duties when they followed up on the information that led to the arrest, police said.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age of person detained | 13 years |
| Items recovered | Norinco pistol, seven live rounds |
| Police unit | Welkom Public Order Policing (POP) platoon |
| Legal action | Case opened; minor released under parental supervision; due in Welkom Magistrate's Court this week |
This development underscores continuing concerns about illegal firearms in communities and the necessity for secure storage to prevent access by children. Further details will emerge at the scheduled court appearance and through police updates.
