Bombs, bullets and military gear: police bust Heidelberg man
Police drilled open a safe during a raid in Heidelberg and found explosives, rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Image: Supplied
A 47-year-old man has been arrested in Heidelberg after police discovered a cache of explosives, firearms, ammunition and a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform during an intelligence-driven operation.
According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), the arrest was made on Monday, October 27, 2025, when EMPD Intervention Unit officers, working with Ekurhuleni Crime Intelligence (SAPS), executed a search warrant at a plot in the area.
“Following on information received, regarding an individual who was suspected to be in possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunitions, officers obtained a search warrant and proceeded to a plot,” the statement read.
When officers arrived, they found the suspect’s wife, who said her husband was at work. She was shown the search warrant but refused entry, while dogs on the premises prevented police from gaining access. The SAPS and EMPD K9 units were then called in to help contain the dogs. The suspect later arrived, and a search was conducted in his presence.
During the search, police found live ammunition in an unmounted safe upstairs. In the main bedroom, officers discovered 79 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, two 9mm magazines, one R5 magazine, 25 rounds of R5 ammunition, and SANDF military uniform in the wardrobe.
Under the stairs, police found another unmounted safe next to a crate containing 12 various types of lethal explosives. The SAPS Technical Support Unit had to drill open the locked safe, where they recovered an R5 rifle, a handgun, and a .22 rimfire long rifle. Inside were also 684 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, 709 rounds of R5 ammunition, 22 shotgun rounds, 400 rounds of .22 ammunition and 92 rounds of R1 ammunition.
Explosives experts and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) were called to the scene, and all the items were seized.
The suspect was read his rights and detained at the Heidelberg police station. He faces charges of possession of military uniform, explosives, unlicensed firearms and live ammunition. He is expected to appear in court soon.