Municipal workers in De Aar, Northern Cape, made an unexpected discovery after digging up approximately 15 000 rounds of historic ammunition, believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War.
The ammunition, identified as .303 rounds, has an estimated value of R7 million.
Police have since recovered the ammunition and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
Workers Discover Ammunition During Excavation
The discovery was made on Tuesday near Malay Camp in Sunrise, De Aar, while municipal workers were digging holes to install electricity poles.
Workers reportedly uncovered crates containing thousands of ammunition rounds and immediately alerted police.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers confirmed that officers responded to the scene and conducted an initial assessment.
A specialised team, including members of the Local Criminal Record Centre, Explosives Unit, K9 Unit and Sunrise detectives, was subsequently deployed to investigate.
Ammunition Linked to Anglo-Boer War
Authorities identified the ammunition as .303 rounds, believed to originate from the Anglo-Boer War, which took place between 1899 and 1902.
The conflict was fought between the British Empire and two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State.
Police consulted a museum expert to help determine the ammunition’s age and estimated value.
The rounds were valued at approximately R7 million, although the method used to calculate their worth remains unclear.
Military Assists With Recovery Operation
On Friday, police returned to the site alongside military personnel to safely remove the historic ammunition.
Approximately 15 000 rounds were successfully recovered during the operation.
Police confirmed that the surrounding area has since been declared safe, while investigations into the discovery remain ongoing.
An official enquiry has also been registered to establish the circumstances surrounding the ammunition’s presence at the site.
Ehlers urged members of the public not to handle or tamper with suspected ammunition or explosive materials.
Instead, residents are encouraged to immediately report any similar discoveries to police to ensure the materials can be safely assessed and recovered.
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