Operation Shanela a big success in far West Rand
Operation Shanela was dubbed yet another success following 115 arrests recently, including four illegal shebeen owners, murderers and 41 undocumented persons.
Police officers from different parts of the West Rand, including Rand West City, continued their fight against lawlessness recently.
On January 4, cops again embarked on their famous Operation Shanela. The precincts targeted this time around were Fochville and Wedela which is next door to Rand West City.
Speaking to the Herald, police spokesperson Solomon Sibiya said the multidisciplinary operation comprised six phases with a focus on roadblocks, illegal mining, crime prevention and vehicle checkpoints among others.
“Stakeholders and social partners supporting the initiatives included the Gauteng Traffic Police, Department of Home Affairs, Crime Prevention Wardens and CPF members among others. The main routes where the operation was carried out included the N12, R500, R28, P111, and M13 as well as Flower, JB Marx, Elandsridge and R54 Roads. About 115 arrests were generated by the uncompromising operation with Vispol members ensuring 46 arrests. The other 60 arrests were made thanks to great detective work,” Sibiya said.
Arrests made by detectives include four persons for murder, 19 for assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm, two for common robbery, five for common assault, one for business robbery, two for robbery with a weapon other than a firearm, eight for housebreaking and theft, one for business burglary, one for the possession of a hijacked vehicle, four for fraud, 10 for malicious damage to property, three for theft, one for drunken driving, two for discharging a firearm, one for escaping and two for contravening a protection order. A further three persons were arrested for common assault related to domestic violence.
Vispol Crime Prevention members and the Firearm, Liquor and Second Hand Goods (FLASH) Units in collaboration with traffic officials and the wardens also busted four illegal shebeen owners, confiscating about 230 250ml of liquor in the process.
One person was also arrested for being in possession of precious gold metal worth R20 000. Another 41 undocumented persons were nabbed.
In addition, nine fines to the value of R9 000 were issued of which one was for contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act valued at R1 500, and another for contravening the Tobacco Act, also valued at R1 500.
Furthermore, traffic officers enforced road traffic rules and regulations by issuing seven fines to the value of R6 000 in total.
