MORE than 1400 suspects were arrested during SAPS operations across the province in July.
In a media statement on Thursday, the KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda commended police on their law enforcement activities in which 1417 suspects were arrested. Operations were conducted from 16 July and included roadblocks, suspect raids, firearm raids, stop-and-search operations, liquor outlets inspections, cordon and search operations and high visibility patrols, particularly in hotspot areas throughout the province.
Of the 1417 suspects, 277 were arrested for drug related crimes, 35 for murder, 130 for drunk driving, 126 for assaults; 47 for robberies; 12 for housebreakings and 15 for rape. A total of 75 suspects were charged for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and 69 firearms and 540 rounds of ammunition were recovered. The firearms that were seized included 61 pistols, four assault rifles, two homemade firearms and two shotguns.
“We would like to commend the police for the sterling work in ridding our communities of crime. As the provincial government, we have always maintained that the majority of the men and women in uniform are committed to their work. It is only a few rogue elements who are tarnishing the good image of hard-working police officers,” said Kaunda.
Outlining government’s bold plan to fight crime in the province, Kaunda said that his department would pull out all the stops to ensure that community policing is improved and that community-crime fighting structures are given adequate support to be eyes and ears of the police.
During his budget speech last month, the MEC indicated that more effort would be given in reducing the proliferation of illegal firearms drugs and liquor outlets. “These are the main drivers of contact crimes that we continue to witness in our communities. We have also committed ourselves in assessing the functionality of police stations in areas that are hardest hit by violent crimes,” said Kaunda.
