Firearm dealer recounts his encounter with law enforcement at Mariannhill Toll Plaza
Jerome Chetty and his cousin’s firearms were laid on the floor during the police stop.
Image: KZN Department of Transport / Facebook
Jerome Chetty, a 10-year firearm dealer and director of a security company, recounted an interaction with police, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, and Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza while on his way to a gunsmith in Pietermaritzburg on Monday.
Accompanied by his cousin, a policeman from Johannesburg, they were en route to the gunsmith.
During the department’s #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation, the RTI, Durban metro police, and South African Police Service (SAPS) intercepted Chetty and his cousin driving a car with firearms and allegedly 800 rounds of ammunition.
The department said Chetty produced an expired permit for transporting a rifle. This was in contravention of the Firearms Control Act. Additionally, the vehicle he and the policeman were in was suspended as it was illegally fitted with security lights. Subsequently, as the owner of the vehicle, he was charged for contravening the National Road Traffic Act.
Earlier, MEC Siboniso Duma said the pair was unable to submit valid documents confirming compliance with the Firearms Control Act. The vehicle they were travelling in was impounded for being illegally fitted with security lights, which is in contravention of the National Road Traffic Act.
KZN Department of Transport MEC Siboniso Duma (left), Road Traffic Inspectorate officials, and Durban metro police officers conducted checks on the firearms.
Image: KZN Department of Transport / Facebook
Chetty said that when they left the toll plaza, they were stopped and asked if they had firearms; they said yes, and were pulled over.
“On the back seat was my company rifle with the bag as per the Firearms Control Act, you can’t be using a rifle if it’s not in the bag,” Chetty said.
“I had three firearms licensed to me. The guy that was with me, three of his firearms, one was his carry, and then obviously his back-up weapon in his leg.”
Chetty said they were going to the gunsmith. They showed proof and messages asking his cousin to drive him to Pietermaritzburg.
He said that when the firearms were brought out, there were comments about there being many firearms.
“I told them number one, I’m a dealer. I’m a legitimate firearm dealer with 10 years of incident-free experience. Number two, my shirt clearly states that Syndicate Protection Services is on the other side of Mount Edgecombe Arms. We are going to the gunsmith to fetch guns,” Chetty said.
He was asked about the licences, to which he handed over “six, seven licences”.
“Everything was justified, all licences were given,” Chetty said.
He said that regarding the rifle, he showed them the permit, but they insisted the permit is not valid and they need a white card. He said the white card, since he has about 100 company firearms, is in the office. However, within seconds, he received a picture of the white card.
Law enforcement officials where Jerome Chetty and his cousin were intercepted during the #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation.
Image: KZN Department of Transport / Facebook
“After it all, they gave me the firearms back. They gave the keys to the vehicle. They told me next time, if I’m carrying this firearm, I must carry the white licence, which is not legal. You can’t carry a company gun with a licence. You have to have a permit,” Chetty said.
“No impounding of vehicle. No arrest. No putting me in a police van. To me, it was a spectacle.”
Chetty said he went to his office. There was no follow-up or arrest.
He acknowledged that law enforcement was doing its job, but he questioned the manner in which they did it, saying they need to know the laws.
Chetty expressed concern about embarrassing his cousin, who is on holiday and not on duty.
He was also concerned that he was already convicted on social media before people knew the facts.
Chetty said they made a statement that he had blue lights, which are known to be illegal. He said he did not have blue lights. His lights are factory white.
He also said there was an issue with the number of rounds reported. He said a sealed brown box, written 1,000 rounds, had a scope in it. It was not opened. Law enforcement estimated about 500 rounds from the box and those from magazines, bringing them to 800.
Chetty added that they were made to sign a letter stating everything was handed over to them and nothing was stolen, before they were told they were free to go.
Duma reported on another incident, which was not linked to Chetty and his cousin.
In that incident, three suspects were arrested for impersonating police officers. They were found in possession of fake police appointment cards.