KwaZulu-Natal housing head Advocate Mduduzi Khoza appeared in the Pinetown magistrate's court on Wednesday on charges of illegal possession of firearms, including an AK-47 rifle.
Khoza and his brother Nkosinathi were arrested on Monday morning when police, acting on a tip-off, swooped on his Pinetown house and uncovered the rifle, ammunition and a 7.65 pistol.
Khoza, who was appointed as head of housing in 2001, appeared briefly in court and was granted bail of R10 000.
Police Captain Priscilla Naidoo said police had received information on Monday that unlicensed weapons hired from an unknown South Coast source were kept at Khoza's house allegedly for use in a "hit" on Tuesday night.
"The informer alleged that the hit would be carried out by an ex-policeman," said Naidoo.
"If the hit was successful, the hitman would have been rewarded with R62 000," he added.
Departmental spokesperson Harry Mchunu said the law should take its course and urged the police to investigate whether there were any "dirty tricks".
