Mr. Zulu and Arms Dealer Arrested in Gun Bust of 2018
A Laingsburg police officer has shed light on the connection between popular TikTok personality Suhail Mohamed, 34, known as Mr. Zulu, and Durban arms dealer Anderson Padayachee. The officer stated that Mohamed was present during a gun bust that occurred in 2018.
This information was disclosed at the Western Cape High Court on Thursday as Padayachee’s trial continued.
The proprietor of Anderson’s Guns and Ammo, located in Wentworth, Durban, pleaded not guilty to 66 charges, including murder, attempted murder, fraud, violations of the Fire Arms Control Act, and offenses under the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act (Poca).
Padayachee is alleged to have illegally sold firearms to the Terrible Josters gang and was apprehended by the Hawks in February 2021.
During his arrest, it was reported that police confiscated 17 illegal firearms in George, which were in transit from Johannesburg and were allegedly meant for Cape Town gangs. An additional 44 firearms were seized from his business premises.
Sergeant Shavon Colin Felix testified and informed Judge Daniel Thulare that he first encountered Padayachee on June 9, 2018, while traveling between Laingsburg and Touws River.
He indicated that Padayachee was driving a silver VW Polo sedan at high speed, prompting him to record the license plate. Upon discovering that the plate was fraudulent, he pursued Padayachee with sirens activated and called for backup.
With assistance from Touws River SAPS, he successfully halted the vehicle and found Padayachee behind the wheel with a woman and two children in the back seat, alongside a bearded man in the passenger seat.
Felix stated that Padayachee claimed Mohamed was his brother.
The group was transported to Touws River SAPS after officers discovered a firearm in the vehicle. A detailed search of the car uncovered 17 additional firearms and 24 magazines stashed in the trunk.
Felix recounted that after initially denying the presence of any firearms or illegal items in the vehicle, Padayachee admitted to being an arms dealer in Durban and stated he intended to sell the firearms in Cape Town.
During a photo identity parade conducted one year later, it was confirmed that the bearded man was Mohamed.
When asked how he could recall them so distinctly, Felix replied: “I identified the passenger and the driver because I was conversing with them for [long] durations. I remember their faces.”
Earlier this month, Mohamed was shot and injured outside the residence of slain alleged gang leader, Peter Jaggers, in Netreg while he was standing next to a white Range Rover.
Following Jaggers’ death, who was reportedly kidnapped by a Colombian drug cartel, Mohamed shared a photograph with the deceased and noted: “My brother and friend, until we meet again.”
Felix informed the court that he later learned both Mohamed and Padayachee had been released, along with the firearms, as none of the weapons were found to be stolen.
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