The streets of Katlehong were painted in blue as the Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner (GPPC) Lieutenant General Elias Mawela led the operation around Katlehong on June 23.
Mawela was accompanied by the Ekurhuleni District Commissioner (EDC) Major General Anna Sithole, as well as various law enforcement agencies including SAPS, EMPD, Gauteng traffic police and CPF.
Mawela said the operation is a weekly anti-crime campaign taking place in all districts in Gauteng, however, the provincial management decided to join the EDC, together with the management and the CPF chairperson focusing on the Katlehong area.
He said the operation started with the detectives tracking suspects.
“We are grateful that the detectives managed to collect over 900 wanted suspects in the whole province,” he continued.
“These suspects were arrested for various offences including contact crimes, serious crimes, property-related and GBV crimes.
“In Katlehong, the station detectives also collected 11 wanted suspects. It sounds little, but it is better than nothing because those people would not have volunteered themselves into police custody. Policemen and women went out to look for them,” said Mawela.
He explained the operation started with roadblocks in the cold weather at Mofokeng Section at 08:00 after their briefing at Katlehong South Police Station.
He further thanked police officers and CPF members who took part, especially while it was extremely cold and rainy.
“At least two combis were taken off the road for further investigation by SAPS specialists because of evidence of tampering with the VIN.
“One person was also arrested for possession of dagga at the roadblock,” Mawela further explained.
“Other teams managed to arrest three people for dealing in dagga. They found them with big bags of dagga and money, evidence that they are in serious business.
“An individual was arrested for dealing in hardcore drugs. We are grateful for the officers who had gone out in this bad weather to achieve this.”
He further explained that six illegal liquor outlets were closed. Liquor was confiscated and those who were dealing in liquor without licenses and permits were arrested.
Another team was working on second-hand goods. “People who are dealing in second-hand goods are a little bit problematic to the police.”
He noted that the people damaging the essential infrastructure and stealing the electric cables are taking those things to the second-hand dealers.
“The second-hand dealers are not complying with the law. They just receive these goods and pay the money. This leads to the thieves going back to steal and damage.
“We also had a team raiding second-hand dealers and those who are not complying with the law were also given spot fines.
“It means they have permits, but not complying with the law. Some of the requirements is that when they receive goods they have to take a copy of the seller’s ID and proof of being the rightful owner of whatever you are selling,” said Mawela.
Police also confiscated gambling machines at local spaza shops, which operated without gambling permits.
During the operation, the EDC Major General Sithole, Katlehong South SAPS Station Commander Brigadier Albertina Vesi and CPF Chairperson Phindile Ntuli took a tour around Katlehong to show Mawela crime hotspots around the area.
The team visited Moleleki Ext Two, Katlehong Ext Nine, AP Khumalo, Siluma, Kwanele and Thokoza Cemetery where most of the carjacking victims are taken to after being hijacked.
Kathorus MAIL reported on the story about carjacking victims in our May 11, 2022, edition, which details how victims were hijacked, taken and kept at the cemetery while other criminals go to Sam Ntuli Mall to withdraw the victim’s money from their bank accounts.
Mawela said they will be focusing on the hotspot areas.
He said he visited the area during the day so that he can observe and understand the area better.
“When we have an operation we will know which areas to focus on,” Mawela concluded.
Members of the public were pleased with the police presence around Katlehong One of the residents at Mofokeng Sections, Phineas Molapo, said they welcomed the operation because crime is high – mainly because a lot of people have lost their jobs during the pandemic.
Kearabile Seroba said police are doing a great job. However, this is what people need to see often because some people have lost trust in the SAPS.
“If police can conduct such operations every week, crime can decrease dramatically – especially with support from the community,” said Seroba.
