The SAPS together with other law enforcement agencies in Gauteng, over this first weekend of the COVID-19 Level 2 Lockdown, continued with operations aimed at ensuring adherence to the Regulations across all districts in the Province, balancing this with mandatory crime prevention duties.
These operations resulted in the arrest of more than seven hundred and forty (740) suspects, including two police police officers arrested for drinking and driving. A 27-year-old Constable was arrested in Sedibeng on Saturday night after driving into an accident, injuring a bystander. He was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol as well as reckless and negligent driving. A Sergeant was arrested in Norwood, Johannesburg on Thursday night after his car collided with a Metro police vehicle. The 37-year-old was arrested on the spot and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Over and above the criminal charges, the members will face internal disciplinary processes as well.
Meanwhile, the intensified operations saw two hundred and eighty-three (283) suspects arrested in Ekurhuleni, two hundred and fifteen (215) in the West Rand, one hundred and seventy-three (173) in Johannesburg, one hundred (100) in Tshwane and seventy (70) in Sedibeng. These suspects were arrested for Contravention of Disaster Management Act and other crimes that include driving while under the influence of alcohol, murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of unlicensed firearms, intimidation and possession of drugs.
The arrested suspects will be appearing at various magistrates’ court across Gauteng from Monday, 24 August 2020.
Welcoming the arrests, Gauteng Commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela in his capacity as chairperson of the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, also used the opportunity to extend condolences to the Tshwane Metro Police Department who in the early hours of this morning, lost three of their members who died in a head-on collision with a suspected drunk driver on the N4 in Pretoria West.
“This kind of tragedy cuts deep in all of us, reminding us of the great risks taken every day by our men and women in law enforcement to protect and keep our communities safe. We therefore share the grief of the entire TMPD on the untimely death of the three officers killed in the line of duty,” remarked General Mawela.
Source: South African Police Service