Upwards of 860 suspects were rounded up by various units of the SAPS during a Limpopo-wide special operation allegedly, but in Bela-Bela some revellers are still shocked after search-and-
seizure operatives discharged a stun grenade in an enclosed venue.
The non-lethal explosive device was dropped into a crowd of party-goers at the Shisanyama braai outlet in the local township, on the evening of Saturday 16 March, sending people screaming and
scurrying for cover.
No arrests nor injuries were reported.
Limpopo police communications officer, Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, said during a mobile interview on Tuesday 19 March, that the provincial high command had not received a report relating to the
use of a stun grenade.
“We have not received such a report, but I shall definitely follow up on this,” he said.
The joint police operation was carried out by Crime intelligence, detectives, Public Order Police (POP), Tactical Response Team (TRT), the air-wing and K9 Dog Unit.
Ngoepe said the operation started on Friday 15 March until Monday 18 March.
He said 860 suspects aged between 18 and 55 were arrested for a variety of offences.
Ngoepe said these included the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of drugs, murder, attempted murder, house robbery, armed robbery, burglary, rape, fraud, possession of suspected stolen goods, possession of suspected a stolen motor vehicle, and the contravention of the Immigration Act.
In the Modimolle cluster, three suspects aged between 30 and 35 were nabbed along the N1 for the illegal possession of drugs, with a street value of R150 000.
— The BEAT
