Western Cape To Scan Trucks For Hidden Weapons Along N7 Corridor

The Western Cape government is set to introduce mobile radar scanners aimed at detecting illegal firearms and contraband concealed in trucks entering the province.

Premier Alan Winde made the announcement during his State of the Province Address, where crime and cross-border gun smuggling were high on the agenda.

According to Winde, intelligence reports indicate that firearms are being smuggled into South Africa from Namibia via the N7 corridor. The route has long been flagged by law enforcement as a trafficking channel for guns, drugs and other illicit cargo.

“There’s a report that tells you how the guns come from Namibia down the N7, and that’s what fuels the gang warfares that kill our children,” Winde said.

The province plans to procure two mobile radar scanners that can be deployed anywhere within the Western Cape. Trucks will be required to drive through the scanners, which are designed to detect hidden weapons, illicit goods and false compartments built into trailers or truck bodies.

“These scanners will be able to pick up if there are arms buried underneath the truck somewhere, if there are false compartments,” Winde explained. He added that the technology could also assist in uncovering child trafficking and the movement of illegally traded products.

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For truck operators running the N7 and other key routes into the province, this likely means increased roadside inspections and compliance checks once the scanners are operational. While border control remains a national government function, the Western Cape says this move will strengthen provincial crime-fighting capabilities.

Transporters using the N7 corridor are advised to ensure loads are properly documented and vehicles remain compliant, as enforcement visibility along this route is expected to increase.