Police minister, Gauteng MEC for community safety and senior police management pounce on Tembisa hostel and recover unlicensed firearm and stolen vehicles

Police Minister, General Bheki Cele was flanked by Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Ms Faith Mazibuko, Provincial Commissioner of police in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing Major General Tommy Mthombeni, and Ekurhuleni District Commissioner Major General Vincent Leshabane as the Minister led multi-disciplinary forces in O Kae Molao operations in Tembisa and Ivory Park, Ekurhuleni, last night.
Minister Cele and the entourage pounced on the Ehlanzeni Hostel in Tembisa where they recovered unlicensed firearm, stolen vehicles, parts of vehicles that were reported stolen and large quantity of dagga hidden in a manhole. Other vehicles were impounded after it was discovered that they had been tempered with.
While on operation, a signal of hijacked vehicle was received and followed, and a Toyota Hilux was found abandoned with key still in the ignition in Ivory Park.
The Minister also visited various liquor outlets to ensure adherence by patrons and owners to Alert Level One Lockdown Regulations. A few liquor outlets found operating illegally were closed down and over 36 66300 milli-litres of liquor was seized.
At the roadblocks police working with the SANDF, Gauteng Traffic Police and the EMPD issued fines to the value of R51 500.
More than two hundred and forty-eight (248) other suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni after they were found to have committed offences that include driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of hijacked vehicle, fraud, rape, robbery and murder.

Meanwhile, the other four Distric Commissioners led parallel operations in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Sedibeng and the West Rand where more than eight hundred (800) wanted suspects were successfully traced and arrested for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, car hijacking, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and sexual assault.
Of these arrests, one hundred and twelve (112) were suspects arrested for crimes related to Gender Based Violence and Femicide. This comes as police continue to focus more and intensify the fight against the scourge of GBVF as well as crimes committed against children and other vulnerable persons.
Police in Gauteng will continue with joint operations aimed at bringing crime to its lowest levels while also enforcing the COVID-19 Disaster Management Lockdown Regulations, as the country heads to the last weekend of the month and approaches the festive season.
The arrested suspects will appear in different magistrate courts in due course.

Source: South African Police Service

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