CAPE TOWN - A man has been arrested in Macassar in Cape Town for being in possession of illegal explosives, the police said on Saturday.

"Splendid police work and follow up of vital information" by Macassar SAPS and Cape Town metro police members led to the arrest of a 42-year-old suspect on Friday for being in possession of illegal explosives, Captain FC van Wyk said in a statement.

Macassar SAPS and metro police K9 unit members received a tip-off regarding illegal firearms and possible hand grenades being stored at a premises in Nomsa Mpongwana Street in Macassar Village, Macassar.

A search warrant was obtained and metro police explosives K9 unit members located the explosives and the SAPS bomb disposal unit was called to the scene.

"On arrival of SAPS bomb disposal unit [members], they found two flares and an old rusty hand grenade which was unstable and could not be transported. The hand grenade was immediately disposed of by the SAPS bomb disposal unit members."