Police and soldiers have arrested multiple suspects in Delft after seizing explosives, firearms, ammunition and drugs during an intelligence-led operation at Freedom Farm informal settlement. The early-morning raid formed part of Operation Prosper, a joint task force involving the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force.

According to Daily Voice, the operation led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man after officers found explosives, including an M26 hand grenade, buried at a burnt-out shack. Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said two firearms and ammunition were also recovered at the scene.

Grenade buried at burnt-out shack

The recovery of a hand grenade has raised the stakes in what was already a serious operation. Police say the explosive device was hidden underground along with weapons and ammunition, pointing to a cache that could have posed a major danger to residents if left undiscovered.

The 35-year-old suspect was arrested on charges linked to the illegal possession of explosives, as well as firearms and ammunition. While police have not yet released further details about how the explosives got there or whether they are linked to broader criminal activity, the find underscores the kind of firepower law enforcement teams are trying to remove from communities.

More arrests follow in same operation

The operation did not stop there. Daily Voice reported that a 23-year-old suspect was also arrested after two 9mm firearms and ammunition were found. In a separate search, officers arrested a 36-year-old man after discovering tik hidden beneath a carpet inside a shack.

That means the raid stretched beyond a single weapons bust. It also pulled in a suspected drug case, adding to concerns about how tightly firearms, explosives and narcotics can overlap in violent crime hotspots.

Suspects expected in court

Van Wyk said all suspects had been detained and the recovered items handed in for further processing. He said they are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court on their respective charges once formally charged.

He described Operation Prosper as a coordinated effort to disrupt criminal activity, remove illegal firearms from circulation and improve safety for residents. For people living in Delft, the seizure may offer some relief, but it also highlights the level of danger police say still exists on the ground.