Close to 80 people arrested in another major West Rand Operation Shanela
Nearly 80 people were arrested by police in the West Rand District during Operation Shanela held recently.
Law enforcement from three West Rand rural policing precincts namely Hekpoort, Magaliesburg and Tarlton painted their respective towns blue during yet another Operation Shanela held recently.
The operation included two roadblocks, one staged at the R24 and N14 main routes and the other at the R563 and R400. There was also a vehicle checkpoint at the R28 up to the N12, as well as at the R41 and M13 towards Azaadville in Kagiso, followed by three crime prevention groups each focused on their allocated policing precinct.
To further intensify the operation, a group focusing on illegal mining activities was also added.
Of the 77 total arrests generated during the operation, detectives successfully traced and pounced on 57 known and wanted perpetrators, plus a further two perpetrators were arrested for GBV-related incidents. Officials of Vispol managed to put a total of 20 law transgressors behind bars as a result of the roadblocks as well as stop and searches.
Detectives arrested perpetrators for the following crimes:
• Five for armed robbery
• 19 for assault GBV
• Three for common assault
• Six for housebreaking and theft
• Two for business burglary
• Two for money laundering
• One for possession of stolen property
• One for pointing a firearm
• Four for theft.
• Six for malicious damage to property (MITP)
• One for intimidation,
• Two for contravening a protection order
• Three for contempt of court.
Vispol arrests included:
• One for murder
• One for MITP
• One for illegal mining equipment
• One for dealing in liquor without a license
• One for drunken driving
• 15 for being undocumented persons.
Owing to the dedication and hard work displayed by all participants during the operation, acting West Rand District Police Commissioner Brigadier Happy Xaba on behalf of the West Rand District Police Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana, expressed his gratitude for the good successes generated for a day.
We could not have achieved all this if we didn’t come here and do our best” expressed the Brigadier.
The multidisciplinary operation led by the Xaba as the overall commander was joined by the presence and support of other law enforcement partners, namely, Gauteng Traffic Crime Prevention Wardens, a drone pilot, Mogale City Public Safety, Correctional Services, Home Affairs, District CPF chairperson, ward councillors from three policing precincts, security companies and community safety patrollers.
All arrested suspects will appear before the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court soon facing different charges.
