PARKTOWN – Concerted efforts by the South African Police Service towards turning the tide against crime in Gauteng has today seen seventeen (17) more suspects arrested for various offences in different parts of the Province, and this over and above the over 800 arrests effected during this morning’s Operation O Kae Molao in Vereeniging.
With the festive season on our doorsteps, the focus of crime prevention operations has now been broadened and cuts across most crime categories.
In relation to rural safety, police in Randfontein on Thursday 10 October arrested nine (9) foreign nationals including two (2) minors for possession of suspected unwrought precious metal; and also seized equipment suspected of being utilised during the commission of illicit mining. Police were responding to information relating to stock theft on certain plots and farmsteads when they found the suspects occupied with illegal activities.
This follows the successes gained from operations targeting illicit mining this past week in Langlaagte, Florida and Roodepoort where the SAPS together with Provincial Traffic, Johannesburg Metro Police Department, City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensics and other Agencies, Private Security. A female suspect was among four (4) suspects arrested for possession of copper cables and digital weighing scale. Fines were also issued for contravention of various laws and bylaws.
PRASA and Eskom also participated in some operations focusing on the destruction of infrastructure and police in Matholesville seized heavy machinery, steel, pylons and metres.
Meanwhile, a 31-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of a suspected stolen truck as well as vehicle parts belonging to hijacked vehicles following an intelligence-driven operation that led police to a farm in Sedibeng where police found pats belonging to a Nissan X Trail robbed in Parrow in 2017; a BMW X5 robbed in Benoni in May this year; a BMW robbed in Mondeor in February 2019; a BMW robbed in Vosloorus in January 2018; a BMW hijacked in Randburg in February 2019; and an Isuzu Truck 8 ton.
As the fight against the scourge of drugs continues, police at a roadblock on the R21 pulled over a VW Craft that was en-route Rustenberg and on searching the vehicle, police seized a box containing 140 bundles of a suspected narcotic plant – mira/khat and subsequently arrested the driver for possession of suspected narcotics. The value of the narcotics is yet to be determined.
Two male suspects were arrested by the provincial organized crime: narcotics unit in Auckland Park for possession of illegal drugs valued at an estimated R200 000 – ecstasy, mandrax, CAT, and crystal meth. Auckland Park is an area where a number of tertiary students reside and thus remains a high risk for opportunistic drug dealers.
Meanwhile, police in Rabie Ridge responded to information of a firearm hidden in the bonnet of a VW Golf with five (5) occupants. Police spotted the vehicle and gave chase and the suspects stopped and abandoned the vehicle in Hlanganani Street in Kanana. Police indeed found a shotgun hidden in the engine. The firearm will be processed for possible linkage to any serious and violent crimes.
In relation to the illegal trade in counterfeit goods, police on Wednesday 09 October 2019 operationalised a tip-off and confiscated a consignment of a popular brand of sanitary towels in Cleveland. A Toyota Quantum loaded with the same brand sanitary towels was found close by also confiscated by the police. The value of the seized goods came to about R5 million. Further investigation led police to a self-storage facility in Sandringham where police on Thursday 10 October 2019 found more sanitary towels and running shoes of counterfeit brands with a combined estimated value of R12 million. No suspects have been arrested as yet.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has applauded the integrated law enforcement agencies for their concerted efforts at enforcing the rule of law, and has also thanked the public for their continued collaboration through reporting crime to the police. General Mawela said, “if we want to truly win the war on crime we have to begin to do things differently moving forward. #Zizojika izinto!”
Source: South African Police Service