Sophiatown Police arrested a total of 17 suspects during a recent joint law-enforcement operation, which ran from 8 July to 12 July.
Sophiatown corporate communications officer, Lieutenant Colonel Julia Claassen, said that high-visibility operations were conducted. “They included the K9 unit, the flying squad, air wing, metro police, City Power and health services in aid of by-law enforcement for illegal spaza shops, enhancement of visible policing and crime deterrence,” she said.
“Numerous fines were issued for by-law infringements. The police managed to arrest six suspects for possession of drugs, four for armed robbery, two for theft of motor vehicle, one for possession of a firearm without a licence, one for being in possession of a homemade firearm, one for identity fraud, one for assault and one for shoplifting,” said Claassen. She added that the police also confiscated crystal meth, heroine and mandrax tablets.
Claassen said that abandoned buildings had been generating crime as highlighted by the MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, during her visit to Sophiatown on 5 July. “These buildings were demolished as part of the Sophiatown Police’s endeavours to discourage crime in the area,” said Claassen.
She concluded that the arrested suspects will appear in the Newlands Magistrates’ Court soon.
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