OR Tambo District, Zwelidumile Mbutho ,age 57 who was arrested during Operation Gijima tsotsi for fraudulently producing a fake liquor license certificate on 17 September 2019 has been sentenced to undergo nine ( 9) months imprisonment or to pay a R6000 fine. He was sentenced on Friday, 20 September 2019 at Flagstaff Magistrate’s Court.

He was arrested at Flagstaff CBD on 17 September during a province wide Provincial Commissioner ‘s crime combatting and prevention intervention led by Provincial Commander: Crime Prevention – Brig Malibongwe Ntsabo aimed to quell crime like gender based violence, illicit trade in liquor, illegal firearms and general disregard for law in different areas of Eastern Cape.

The two month old operation that begano03 August 2019 has been to East London, Port Alfred, Matatiele, King Wiliam’s Town, Lusikisiki and Flagstaff, Mt Fletcher, Qumbu, Somerset East, Aberdeen and Graaf Reinett in a short time yielding numerous successes and community endorsement.

Operation Gijima Tsotsi, entails deployment of resources, human and capital in identified crime hotspots to conduct crime fighting operations. Station Commanders from different clusters are deployed and they come with a wealth of experience to the foot beat and patrol duties.

According to Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga alcohol and drug abuse contribute in many ways to the rise in crime hence our focus on illicit alcohol trade and license compliance for authorised dealers.

“Illicit alcohol dealers and licensed dealers who disregard licence conditions do not make the situation any better but exacerbate it. We welcome this speedy finalization of this case and hope that it sends a chilling message to all those illicit alcohol traders to better start running because Operation Gijima Tsotsi is catching up with them and will catch them one by one, warned the Provincial Commissioner.

Source: South African Police Service