Police officers from the Uthukela district descended on Estcourt on June 4, intent on conducting “high density disruptive operations”. The law enforcement crews were involved in roadblocks at different locations, blue light and foot patrols as well as compliance inspections at liquor outlets.
These operations resulted in a total 12 arrests as well as recoveries. The arrests included four aged between 18 and 38 who are undocumented persons, three suspects aged between 22 and 32 were arrested for either dealing in or for being in possession of narcotics and five people were arrested and charged after being found to be dealing in liquor without a licence.
The liquor and drugs were confiscated. In addition, a stolen vehicle was also recovered.
“A vehicle that had been hijacked in the Ntabamhlophe area was recovered, together with a deep freezer, a television set, and an amplifier. The vehicle had been found abandoned. Police also recovered narcotics in the form of capsules, that is believed to be heroine,” said police spokesperson warrant Officer Basheer Khan.
Spike in robberies
In the past weeks, there has been an increase in robberies in the central business district, allegedly committed by seemingly increasing number of homeless people that are caught in the throes of substance abuse, often referred to “paras”. A concerned shop owner, who did not want to be named, witnessed such an attack on Friday.
“It was at lunch time, an elderly man was held up by two men in an in Alexandra Street. It happened in front of my eyes. No one came to help even though he screamed for help, it was sad. A number of people are being robbed in this arcade. Police must do something or else the ATM must be removed, because people are getting robbed as they withdraw money,” commented the resident.
To combat the escalating crime in and around Estcourt Uthukela District SAPS district commissioner Major General Jabulani Khumalo has assured the community that operations, like the one on Sunday, would be conducted regularly.
“Police in the Uthukela district will continue to employ strategies to address the roots causes of crime,” he commented.
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