A recent integrated Gauteng Law Enforcement Agencies operation on the West Rand yielded great results.
The operations, held on Thursday, 14 March, and called ‘O Kae Molao’ (Where is the Law?) culminated in the arrest of 313 suspects and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and Eskom cables worth R1,2 million at a second-hand dealer.
Constable Carmen Hendricks said that the multidisciplinary and intelligence-driven operations started in Randfontein in the early hours of the morning. The operations were led by the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of the Police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela.
“These operations were concentrating on the policing precinct of Kagiso, Westonaria, Bekkersdal, Randfontein and Krugersdorp. There were also two roadblocks, one each on the N12 and R28 within the West Rand District,” she said.
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The operations also focused on illegal mining, which is rife on the West Rand. Police managed to arrest illegal mining suspects, and recover unlicensed firearms and illegal mining implements.
“All law enforcement agencies supported the West Rand District, consisting of Gauteng Districts Vispols, K9 Units, Flying Squads, Crime Intelligence Units, Crime Detection Units, Organised Crime Units, Gauteng Traffic, Rand West Public Safety and Community Policing Forum patrollers,” she said.
The operations wouldn’t have been successful without the support of the Department of Environmental Health, South African Revenue Service and the Department of Home Affairs. The operations also included roadblocks, tracing of wanted suspects, raiding of illegal liquor outlets and second-hand goods dealers, as well as stop and search operations.
Mawela said that these joint operations assist in stamping the authority of the state on, and reclaiming the streets of, Gauteng.
“Operation O Kae Molao will continue until crime is brought to its lowest levels, and the inhabitants of the province are and feel safe all the time. At the same time, Gauteng has made major breakthroughs in various high-level crimes and I would like to thank the dedicated men and women in blue,” Mawela said.
Nkosi-Malobane also commended the police for good work. “I applaud the work of the law enforcement agencies in this joint operation to root out criminal elements in our society. Their work is commendable and I hope they will maintain this momentum throughout.”
The arrested suspects will appear in various Magistrates’ Courts in due course, on charges ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms, to possession of drugs, business robbery, and fraud.
