Authorities are intensifying their scrutiny of a prominent taxi mogul following the discovery of a staggering cache of high-calibre firearms at Shauwn Mkhize’s opulent La Lucia property, just north of Durban. This alarming revelation comes after a raid conducted by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), in conjunction with local police, last week.Sources revealed that more than 40 firearms were uncovered during the operation, including automatic machine guns believed to belong to a security company operated by the long-distance taxi boss in question. Despite attempts to reach Mkhize for comments through her publicist, Nikiwe Nyembe, there has been no response regarding the alarming situation.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, police spokesperson, initially indicated that no criminal charges would be filed against Mkhize concerning the recovered weapons, suggesting they were secured in an appropriate safe. However, contradictions soon arose, with another source closely tied to the investigation revealing that a case docket had indeed been opened, actively probed by the eThekwini District Detective Task Team.“This person (the security company owner) must explain what his firearms were doing there,” the source stated, emphasising the need to establish authenticity through credentials and an explanation of the presence of such a vast arsenal on Mkhize’s property.The police probe stems from suspicions that the raid targeting Mkhize’s properties was linked to her substantial tax debt, reportedly exceeding R40 million.
Official documents sighted by the indicate that amongst the items confiscated were 13 luxury vehicles, including high-end models like a Lamborghini and a Rolls Royce Cullinan.In the course of the investigation, a police source asserted that firearms should ideally be stored at the registered premises of the security company, not a personal residence. “If they are kept at MaMkhize’s property, he should explain,” the source noted, adding that the matter would eventually be brought before the Private Security Industry Regulation Authority (PSiRA) for potential further action.Echoing this sentiment, another officer warned of the serious implications for anyone mismanaging firearms, citing a prior arrest of a gun shop owner who had concealed a significant quantity of firearms in his home instead of the registered shop.Netshiunda denied that police were actively investigating the firearms, asserting that the operation was primarily under SARS’s jurisdiction. “SARS was not there for crime investigation, but for their own operation,” he explained.
Yet, this statement contrasts with emerging details around the weapons’ fate, with a source reporting that the weapons, which included rifles, shotguns, handguns, and around 2,000 rounds of ammunition, have been sent for ballistic testing.In a related incident, a security guard was arrested with six concealed firearms, bringing further scrutiny on the management of weapons associated with Mkhize’s security company.Last year, two critical court orders were issued against Mkhize by the Durban High Court, further complicating her financial situation. SARS spokesperson Siphithi Sibeko acknowledged that the investigation into the firearms fell outside his department’s immediate purview, highlighting the complexities when inter-agency operations between SARS and police occur. PSiRA has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation, as the scrutiny surrounding both the firearms and Mkhize’s financial activities continues to unfold.