The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service kicked off a successful enforcement weekend with an unannounced compliance visit to bars and clubs in Claremont on Friday 13 September 2019.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, joined officials for a fire safety inspection on these establishments and to check whether they were running legally.
Fire inspectors and law enforcement officers checked with the owners of the entertainment venues whether their business licences, population permits and liquor licences were up to date.
‘The fire safety inspections ensure that establishments are prepared to put out a fire or evacuate a crowd before the firefighters arrive at the scene. Fires destroy property, cause injuries and trauma and can cost lives. Being prepared and up to code saves lives. The inspections will be increased across the city to ensure the safety of patrons,’ said Alderman Smith.
The City’s Traffic Service put Operation Reclaim into full gear with the following successes:
In the Bellville South area officers arrested nine suspects of which seven were taxi drivers with 47 outstanding warrants to the value of R102 090
On Saturday 14 September 2019 officers pulled over a minibus taxi driver at a roadblock in Symphony Road in Bellville South. He made a U-turn before the roadblock and stopped to offload his passengers. As an officer approached him he sped off, leading officers and a nearby South African Police Service vehicle on prolonged chased which ended in Terminus Road in Nyanga where he collided with another vehicle. From there he tried to run but the officers caught him and he was arrested for reckless driving. It was discovered that he has 10 outstanding warrants to the value of R29 700
In Delft officers arrested 16 minibus taxi drivers for 45 outstanding warrants to the value of R85 300
In Khayelitsha area officers arrested 12 minibus taxi drivers for 80 outstanding warrants valued at R175 600 The Taxi Enforcement Unit conducted numerous operations throughout the city and officers impounded 37 vehicles and issued 2 125 fines for various other offences. In a sedan taxi operation held in Kirstenbosch officers impounded 26 vehicles and issued 140 fines for various other offences.
On Sunday 15 September 2019, traffic officials held a drunk driving operation in Muizenberg and arrested 16 suspects for driving under the influence while Metro Police officials netted 12 motorists for on the same charge in Bellville, Lansdowne Bonteheuwel, Goodwood and Parow.
On the same day an operation focusing on street racing in Mitchells Plain led to the arrest of 27 suspects of which 21 were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, three with reckless driving, one for providing false information and one defeating the ends of justice and another for endangering the life of a minor. Officers also issued 139 fines for various other offences.
An officer’s swift reaction on Sunday 15 September 2019 led to the arrest of three suspects for malicious damage to property in Marcus Garvey informal settlement area in Philippi. On arrival officers found the complainant who identified the suspects who had broken the windows of the home and a parked vehicle. The trio of suspects were arrested and detained at the Philippi Police Station.
Other Metro Police successes include:
On Saturday 14 September 2019 officers doing high visibility patrols arrested 23 motorists for drunken driving in Lansdowne, Mfuleni and Philippi
Officers issued a number of fines which include 13 for by law and 246 for traffic contraventions
On Friday 13 September 2019 Metro Police was on patrol on the N2 when they came across a 34-year-old woman driving under the influence. She was stopped close to Jakes Gerwel Drive where she was driving on the wrong side of the road. She blew 0, 64 mg/l during sobriety test and was arrested
Metro Police officers were busy with stop and search operations in Eerste River when they received a tip off of firearms being kept at premises in Melton Rose. The officers searched the house and found:
11 x 2.2 firearm live rounds of ammunition
one x magazine and one black battle jacket behind a Wendy house. The 19-year-old suspect was arrested for illegal possession of ammunition
‘The City’s enforcement agencies are addressing criminal activity, non-compliance, violations and grime on all levels. While it is often the biggest crimes which garner the most media attention, it’s when we tackle the smaller contraventions head on that we make progress. Residents don’t always see it, but they feel the effects of our officers’ hard work when the places they visit are safer and there are fewer drunk drivers on the roads,’ said Alderman Smith.
Source: City Of Cape Town