Spokesman Alpheus Koonyaditse said the man from Roodepoort in Gauteng continuously disrupted a meeting between the department and taxi operators in Zeerust.

The meeting was to intervene in a dispute between taxi operators on the Zeerust-Roodepoort route.

"The man continuously disrupted the meeting held on Sunday, 5 January 2020. Initially, he refuted allegations that he had a firearm with him. It was later found out that he had the licensed 9mm firearm and one magazine... The meeting went well and ended amicably albeit a regrettable incident of one of them being arrested," he said.

The man was expected to appear in the Zeerust Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Meanwhile, a traffic officer who was injured when a minibus taxi bumped him on the N18 on Friday has been discharged from hospital.

Inspector Sabata Paul Mahlatsi of the Montshioa provincial traffic police was on duty on N18 between Lekoko and Madiba a Makgabana village outside Mahikeng, when he pulled over a minibus taxi. When the taxi slowed down to stop, another car hit it from behind forcing it to surge forward and bumped into Mahlatsi.

He fell and injured his arm, he was taken to the hospital together with two passengers from the taxi. They were treated for slight injuries.

"We are very happy he is back and healing well. It was not the best way to start the year but at times things like these happen," Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Sello Lehari said.

He pleaded with motorists to keep safe following distance, drive safely and be responsible. 

African News Agency