Free State – Willem Botha (59) a prominent businessman and firearms dealer of “Die Skietwinkel” appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court for contravening the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000.
He was arrested on Wednesday, 19 May 2021 by the Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crime (NPVC) on the same day of his court appearance. This follows an intense investigation from a pending case into major contraventions of the Firearms Control Act that linked to a gunsmith in Bloemfontein.
In October 2020, about 262 tampered and prohibited rifle barrels were confiscated for further investigation from Trueworx, owned by Mr Izak Hattingh. Consequently Hattingh was arrested and he appeared in the Bloemfontein’s Magistrate Court same day of his arrest. On Tuesday, 18 May 2021, he briefly appeared again and is expected to be back in the same court 24 June 2021.
The case against Botha was remanded to the 09 June 2021, whilst he was released on R500 bail.
Members of the public are urged to contact the investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Jan Basson on 071 481 2808, should they have any information regarding this investigation.
