Police visibility increased during festive season
While many people were enjoying the festive celebrations, SAPS members aimed to increase their visibility.
Organisations involved in roadblocks included SAPS members, Community Policing Forum (CPF), Gauteng Traffic Department and EMPD members.
The biggest roadblock took place on December 31, on the N12, close to the Kingsway off-ramp.
According to Benoni SAPS spokesperson, Const Zunickha Essakjee, 497 vehicles were searched, 57 traffic fines were issued (worth R34 000) and 712 people were searched.
An illegal mining operation was conducted by the Benoni SAPS clusters in Kingsway on December 30.
Some of the items confiscated include two bags of gold dust, two buckets of gold dust and equipment used for illegal mining such as hammers and gas bottles.
On December 24, a roadblock was conducted on High Road, Brentwood Park.
Essakjee said 174 vehicles were searched, seven fines worth R3 200 were issued and 13 taxis were impounded with fines valued at R12 852.
On the same day, in Kingsway, three illegal shebeens were closed.
On December 31 two more shebeens were closed with various equipment and alcohol being confiscated.
“We hit them the day before the public holidays to prevent crimes from taking place,” said Essakjee.
“Our searches and operation did have an impact in curbing the occurrence of certain crimes.”
Essakjee said a total of 313 people were arrested from December 1 until 31 by Benoni SAPS.
The arrests ranged from drug possession, theft, attempted murder, assault and possession of stolen property.
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