The Western Cape government will procure two mobile radar scanners to help detect illegal firearms and contraband entering the province. Premier Alan Winde announced the plan while speaking about crime and cross-border gun smuggling during his State of the Province Address on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Winde said the scanners will be mobile and can be positioned anywhere in the Western Cape. “This province is going to be procuring two radar scanners,” he said, adding that they can be deployed where they are needed most.

How the Scanners Will Work

According to Winde, trucks will drive through the scanners, which can detect hidden weapons and false compartments. He said the radar technology should be able to pick up arms concealed underneath vehicles or stored in modified spaces built into a truck.

The Premier also linked the technology to other serious crimes beyond gun smuggling. He said the scanners could help uncover activities such as child trafficking and the movement of illicitly traded products.

Focus on Routes Used for Trafficking

Winde referenced reporting on firearms moving from Namibia down the N7 route, which he said fuels gang warfare that “kill our children”.

It is reported that the N7 has been flagged by law enforcement as a trafficking corridor for firearms, drugs and other contraband entering South Africa from neighbouring countries.

Province Steps in Despite National Responsibility

Winde said the scanners would strengthen the Western Cape’s crime-fighting capability, even though border control remains a national government responsibility. “This is going to help with our crime-fighting capability,” he said.

The province has not yet given a purchase price or rollout timeline for the scanners in the report.