Municipal workers in South Africa have discovered about 15,000 rounds of historic ammunition estimated to be worth R7 million (approximately $400,000), prompting a police investigation into how the cache came to be stored in the area.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the ammunition was discovered on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, by municipal employees working near Malay Camp in Sunrise, De Aar, in the Northern Cape province.

According to the police, the workers stumbled upon crates containing ammunition and immediately alerted officers, who visited the scene to conduct a preliminary assessment.

The ammunition was identified as .303 rounds believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War, fought between the British Empire and Boer republics in southern Africa between 1899 and 1902.

Police, Military Recover Ammunition

Following the discovery, police deployed a multidisciplinary team comprising members of the Local Criminal Record Centre, Explosives Unit, K9 Unit and Sunrise detectives to investigate the find.

An enquiry was subsequently registered to establish the circumstances surrounding the discovery.

On Friday, October 9, the team returned to the location with the assistance of military personnel to safely retrieve the ammunition.

Police said approximately 15,000 rounds were recovered during the operation, after which the surrounding area was declared safe.

However, investigations into the origin of the ammunition and how it came to be stored near Malay Camp remain ongoing.

Police Warn Public Against Handling Ammunition

The police urged members of the public not to touch or tamper with suspected ammunition, explosives or other potentially dangerous military materials.

Residents were advised to report such discoveries immediately so trained personnel could assess the risks and arrange for safe removal.

Authorities have not disclosed the precise origin of the recovered ammunition or identified any suspects in connection with its presence at the site.

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