Police warn against drunken brawling

POLOKWANE – Fighting in public after enjoying a few drinks at a local pub has become a common occurrence in the city, according to the police.

Last Saturday the police had to be deployed to Witklip and Doornkraal Street in Ladanna to break up several fights.

According to Ladanna residents, this fighting was nothing new and occurred every week, with people left bleeding on sidewalks and in the streets. Motor vehicle owners also complained that beer bottles had been thrown at their vehicles when they drove past certain pubs in the city.

Westenburg police spokesperson, Capt Mohlaka Mashiane, said drinking and fighting was not a new problem and there had been cases of damage to property, theft, assault and attempted murder opened that were connected to this problem.

“We urge the people not to go out and get drunk but to go out and have a good time without making trouble,” Mashiane said.

He said over the weekend the police had participated in a crime prevention operation in Ladanna and several arrests had been made. This operation was part of Operation Clean Up, he said.

Mashiane further said 10 illegal immigrants were arrested and five arrests for public drinking were made during the operation.

Polokwane police spokesperson, WO Lesiba Ramoshaba, urged people to stay away from pubs in the early hours of the morning as there had been two cases reported in which men had been attacked while on their way home.

“In the one incident, a man was killed near the New Pietersburg bridge, and in the other incident, a man was attacked in Witklip Street near the Vermikuliet Street crossing.

“The latter is currently hospital recovering from serious injuries in hospital. He was hit with a stone on the head numerous times,” Ramoshaba said.

Anyone with information that could lead to the arrests of people involved in these attacks can call their nearest police station or make use of the crime line SMS number 32211 anonymously.