12 October 2026
15 000 rounds of Anglo-Boer War ammunition unearthed in De Aar
Crates containing approximately 15 000 rounds of historic .303 ammunition, believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War, have been unearthed by municipal workers in De Aar in the Northern Cape of South Africa.
The ammunition believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War that was found in De Aar by municipal workers. PHOTO: SAPS
While police have put an estimated value of R7 million on the discovery, the actual worth of the ammunition on the collectors’ market is difficult to determine.
Municipal workers digging holes for electricity poles near Malay Camp in Sunrise, De Aar, made the unexpected discovery on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, when they came across crates containing ammunition.
They immediately alerted the South African Police Service (SAPS), which responded to the scene and conducted a preliminary assessment. The ammunition was identified as .303 rounds, believed to date back to the Anglo-Boer War.
The .303 was the service rifle of the British during the war.
According to a police press release, the approximately 15 000 rounds have an estimated value of R7 million. However, Johan van Wyk, editor of SA JAGTER/HUNTER magazine, says it is difficult to put a definitive value on historic ammunition of this kind.
“It is not as easy as just applying the value of modern ammunition to it. They are valued differently on the collectors’ market,” he says.
A RAILWAY TOWN WITH A HISTORY
De Aar is the second-most important railway junction in South Africa, situated on the railway line between Cape Town and Kimberley. The junction was of particular strategic importance to British forces during the Second Anglo-Boer War, adding historical context to the discovery of ammunition believed to date from the conflict.
British troops in open rail trucks at De Aar. PHOTO: karoo-southafrica.com
Today, De Aar serves as a major commercial distribution centre for a large part of the central Great Karoo. Wool production and livestock farming are among the area’s main economic activities, while hunting is also popular in the region despite its arid conditions.
The town also has a significant military connection. The South African Defence Force’s 97 Ammunition Depot is situated approximately 7 km outside De Aar. The extensive facility includes 186 ammunition magazines and an internal railway system. The South African Army’s School of Ammunition is also located there.
A team from the SAPS worked with military personnel to retrieve the ammunition safely. PHOTO: SAPS
SPECIALIST TEAM RECOVERS AMMUNITION
Following the discovery, a multidisciplinary team comprising members of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), Explosives Unit, K9 Unit and De Aar detectives was deployed to the scene. An enquiry was registered to facilitate further investigation.
On Friday, 9 October, the team returned to the site with the assistance of military personnel to retrieve the ammunition safely. Approximately 15 000 rounds were recovered during the operation.
Police have since declared the surrounding area safe, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the discovery continue.
The SAPS has reminded members of the public not to handle or tamper with suspected ammunition or explosive materials. Any such discoveries should be reported to the police immediately.
To read the police statement CLICK HERE.