Osizweni Crime Prevention members and Newcastle Public Order Policing put more than 20 criminal offenders behind bars this past weekend.
According to Lizzy Arumugam of the Newcastle SAPS Corporate Communications office, the arrests were made during a crime intelligence driven operation within the Osizweni policing area.
The charges were as follows:
Thursday, February 18 – One suspect was arrested at a filling station for failing to wear a mask in a public space.
Friday, February 19 – Eight people were arrested for failing to wear masks while in public spaces.
These arrests were made at Section A, KwamaQoshama Tavern, Dumakude Tavern, Blaauwbosch, Valley Café and Jakalaspan.
Police further arrested six more suspects after they failed to confine to their place of residence by 11pm as per law.
Saturday, February 20 – Seven offenders were arrested during an evening patrol for not wearing a mask in public spaces.
Sunday, February 21 – Saps concluded their weekend operation by further securing three more arrests.
“Two suspects failed to confine to their place of residence before curfew, while a third suspect was arrested after police officials caught him selling liquor outside of the law’s set hours,” confirmed Arumugam.
The recovered alcohol was estimated at a value of approximately R1 000.
Arumugam said all the suspects were charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act of 2020.
“All suspects, aged between 18 and 42, have since appeared in the Madadeni Magistrate’s Court for sentencing,” she concluded.
