Nelspruit Woman Arrested After Hawks Uncover Unlicensed Firearm and Ammunition
Nelspruit – A 35-year-old woman has been arrested in Nelspruit following an early-morning raid by the Hawks, which resulted in the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and over 400 rounds of live ammunition.
The suspect, identified as Elisca Sevenster, was placed under surveillance for approximately a month by the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit. This followed the receipt of information indicating that an unlicensed firearm was being kept at her rented home.
Hawks provincial spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, stated that once investigators had gathered sufficient information, a joint team was assembled. This team comprised members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the White River K9 Unit, the White River Flying Squad, and the Nelspruit Local Criminal Record Centre.
At approximately 05:30 on Wednesday, officers executed a search-and-seizure warrant at Sevenster's residence. During the search, they recovered a .38 revolver along with a substantial quantity of ammunition: 36 rounds of .38 calibre, 300 rounds of 5.56×45 mm, and 84 rounds of 7.62×51 mm ammunition, bringing the total to 420 rounds.
Sevenster was promptly arrested, charged, and appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on the same day. She was subsequently released on R2,000 bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 18 February 2026.
Mpumalanga Hawks provincial head, Major General Nico Gerber, has welcomed the successful operation. “We are pleased that at least another illegal firearm was removed from the system,” he said.
This incident follows a similar case in October 2025, where a 25-year-old woman was arrested in Musina, Limpopo, after she was allegedly found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition during a joint police operation.
According to police in Limpopo, the arrest in Musina followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted on 28 October 2025, at about 7 pm. The operation was carried out by members of Musina visible policing and Musina detectives.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the team acted on information that a suspect in the Musina policing area was believed to have an unlicensed firearm. Officers followed up on the tip-off and proceeded to a rental room at Musina Phase 8, where they conducted a search.98
Follow Us on Twitter
