Municipal workers in South Africa have uncovered approximately 15,000 rounds of historic ammunition estimated to be worth R7 million (about seven million South African rand) in Sunrise, De Aar, prompting a police investigation into the discovery.
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.
According to the police, the workers stumbled upon crates containing ammunition and immediately alerted law enforcement officers.
Police officers subsequently arrived at the scene and conducted a preliminary assessment before a multidisciplinary team was deployed to investigate the discovery.
The ammunition was identified as .303 rounds believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War, a series of conflicts fought in South Africa between the British Empire and Boer republics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The discovery has raised questions about how the ammunition came to be stored in the area and how long it had remained there.
Following the discovery, a multidisciplinary team comprising members of the Local Criminal Record Centre, Explosives Unit, K9 Unit and Sunrise detectives was assembled to examine the scene and facilitate the safe recovery of the ammunition.
The police said an enquiry was registered to enable further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
On Friday, October 9, the team returned to the location, assisted by military personnel, to retrieve the ammunition safely.
Approximately 15,000 rounds were recovered during the operation.
The involvement of military personnel and specialist police units was necessary to ensure that the ammunition was handled appropriately and that the recovery operation did not endanger workers or members of the public.
Following the operation, authorities declared the surrounding area safe.
However, investigations into the circumstances surrounding the discovery remain ongoing.
The South African police have urged members of the public not to touch or tamper with suspected ammunition, explosives or other potentially dangerous military materials they may discover.
Residents were advised to immediately report such discoveries to the police so that trained personnel could assess the situation and arrange for safe removal.
The warning is particularly relevant in areas where old military materials may remain buried or abandoned for decades.
Although the recovered ammunition is believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War, authorities have not disclosed further details about its precise origin, how it came to be stored near Malay Camp or whether anyone is suspected of being responsible for its presence.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
