(Photo: Provided)
Two women laughingly waving unlicensed firearms around in a video that was widely shared on social media this week have been arrested by the police.
The Gauteng police started looking for the women, after it recently noted with concern a video on social media in which the two women handle unlicensed firearms recklessly and negligently in a house.
In the video, the two women can be seen laughing, swinging the firearms around, pulling them over and pointing them at each other.
“From the video it appears that the women may not have been properly trained or authorized to handle firearms,” says Brig. Athlenda Mathe, national spokesperson for the police.
(WOMEN FOUND) The two female targets residing at Ebony Park, Midrand, who were depicted in the circulating video clip, have been FOUND.
During police observation, the said female targets were observed being collected by an African male driving a white VW Polo motor vehicle. The… https://t.co/fH9EZmHNi2 pic.twitter.com/BB0JpBznQL
— Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (@CrimeWatch_RSA) May 16, 2026
In terms of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, any person who handles or uses a firearm must be legally authorized to do so and be in possession of a valid firearms license or permit where applicable.
Mathe also points out that firearms owners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their firearms are not acquired or used by individuals who do not possess the necessary competency certificates or firearms licences.
Mans too
Two men who are linked to the firearms in the video were already arrested earlier this week.
Brig. Athlenda Mathe, national spokesperson for the police, says the police’s crime intelligence unit ordered an investigation, after the video was initially distributed on social media.
This investigation led police officers to Tembisa, where two men were found in possession of a hijacked vehicle.
The officers seized the vehicle as well as the firearms seen in the video.
“Preliminary investigations show that the firearms are unlicensed.”
Mathe says the two men, respectively 21 and 34 years old, were arrested for violating the Firearms Control Act, the illegal possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as the possession of a hijacked motor vehicle.
The men will appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Mathe pointed out this week that the registered owner of a firearm can face criminal charges if it is found that he has given unauthorized persons access to the firearm.
“The implications can also be significant where the object in question is a toy gun, an imitation firearm or an unloaded firearm, especially if it is used in a way that creates fear, intimidation or the reasonable perception that it is a real firearm,” explains Mathe.
“The SAPS wishes to remind members of the public that firearms are not toys and should never be used recklessly, displayed irresponsibly or handled for entertainment purposes, which includes social media content.”