Family of a Cape Flats community leader and crime fighter say she was arrested for gun smuggling after trying to help someone hand over a gun to police.
The family of the 50-year-old Blikkiesdorp woman now claims she has been framed.
The woman, who cannot be named until she is charged, is expected to make her first appearance at the Bellville Magistrates’ Court today.
Relatives say the woman, who has been at the forefront of fighting crime and gangsterism in Blikkiesdorp, was devastated to find cops waiting at her gate last Thursday to arrest her.
Minutes earlier, the mother of three had been called to the house of female resident, who allegedly had a firearm in her possession that she wanted handed over to the police.
The woman’s sister explains: “My sister was called by this lady who said she had a gun at her home, but didn’t want to keep it there.
“My sister brought the gun back here, she was going to call the police to fetch it but we told her it cannot be kept here.
“She took the gun back to the woman and when she returned, police were waiting for her and arrested her.”
The sister says it’s not clear who had called the police.
They later learnt the crime-fighter had been arrested for gun smuggling.
“Police first said she is not arrested because she works as a neighbourhood watch member and then when we went to the station, they said she is in the cells for gun smuggling,” she says.
“I said they have made a very big mistake because she was going to hand over the firearm to police and was helping police.
“My sister fights crime for the community daily but now it seems no one is fighting for her.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirms a 50-year-old woman has been arrested. However, the charge was defeating the ends of justice.