South African police are investigating an Ethiopian national who allegedly attacked and injured a police officer in the city of Spring, Gauteng province and was later found to be carrying a Somali passport reportedly issued by the Somali Embassy in South Africa.
The incident occurred on 1 June 2026.
The South African police arrested the suspect, who remains in custody, and seized eight firearms and 557 rounds of ammunition during the operation.
According to South African police, the suspect is believed to have been involved in illegal arms trafficking, allegedly supplying weapons to criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and armed robberies.
Mustafe Shirwa, chairman of the Somali diaspora community in South Africa, said community representatives visited the scene after the incident and met with police officers.
“We arrived at the scene and met the police and members of the community. We told the police that despite having Somali documents, the man is an Ethiopian national,” Shirwa said.
South African police are investigating an Ethiopian national who allegedly attacked and injured a police officer in the city of Spring, Gauteng province and was later found to be carrying a Somali passport reportedly issued by the Somali Embassy in South Africa.
The incident… pic.twitter.com/FttfeEw80E
— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) July 22, 2026
Shirwa said the suspect was carrying an authentic Somali passport, which he believes may have been obtained fraudulently.
He added that the Somali community has been in contact with the Somali Embassy in Pretoria regarding the incident.
The Somali Embassy in Pretoria did not respond to Kaab TV’s request for comment.
South African authorities have not publicly explained how the suspect obtained the Somali passport, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding its issuance are continuing.
The incident comes amid heightened anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa following the expiry of a 30 June deadline set by some groups calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
The case has drawn additional public attention as authorities continue efforts to combat organized crime and illegal firearms trafficking.
The incident has also renewed concerns over the integrity of Somali travel documents and allegations that Somali passports have, in some cases, been fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals.
Somali authorities have previously said they are working to strengthen passport issuance and verification systems, while allegations of document fraud have surfaced in several cases over the years.
