Historic Port Shepstone cannons rescued from scrapyard in sting
Mi7 National Group said the cannons had formed part of an upgrade project and were intended to be transported to Pietermaritzburg.
Three historic cannons believed to date back to the 1700s and 1800s have been recovered after they were allegedly removed without authorisation from the old War Museum on the Port Shepstone beachfront and taken to a scrapyard to be sold for scrap.
Two suspects were arrested during a co-ordinated operation at a scrapyard in Izotsha on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Saturday morning.
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According to Mi7 National Group, the operation followed information received from the scrapyard owner, who became suspicious when unknown individuals attempted to sell the cannons as scrap metal.
Mi7 Armed Response teams in Port Shepstone were alerted to the matter on Friday after the scrapyard owner reported the discovery.
“Initial inquiries established that the cannons had originated from the old museum premises in Port Shepstone,” Mi7 said.
The security company said the cannons had formed part of an upgrade project and were intended to be transported to Pietermaritzburg.
However, it was later confirmed that they had allegedly been removed without the authority or permission of the municipality before being taken to the scrapyard.
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The three cannons were estimated to have a scrap value of about R210 000 based on their copper and brass content.
An operation involving Mi7 Armed Response, SAPS Crime Prevention officers and another security company was then planned after arrangements were made for the suspects to return to collect payment.
“When they did, scrapyard staff escorted the pair into the office under the guise of completing payment documentation and finalising the transaction,” Mi7 said.
Once the suspects were inside and the situation had been brought under control, operational teams moved in and arrested both men without incident.
Investigators believe the two suspects may be linked to a larger group involved in removing and transporting the historic artefacts.
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“It is believed the arrested suspects may form part of a larger group involved in the removal and transportation of the historic artefacts and investigations to identify the accomplices are underway.”
While the cannons were allegedly destined to be melted down and sold as scrap, heritage specialists estimate they could be worth substantially more because of their historical significance.
According to Mi7, early assessments suggest each cannon could have a collector or museum value of between R500 000 and R1 million, depending on its provenance, condition and historical verification.
One of the cannons is reported to still bear a Royal British stamp, a feature that significantly enhances its historical importance.
The operation resulted in all three cannons being recovered before they could be dismantled or destroyed.
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“As Mi7 management, we salute the integrity of the scrapyard owner who reported the incident and assisted with the operation. We also commend the teamwork displayed by all roleplayers involved,” the security company said.
Police investigations into the matter are continuing.
