Safer Festive Season Operations: More than 2 000 arrests in one week

LIMPOPO – According to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, the arrests include the enforcement of the regulations under the Disaster Management Act.

“The police continue to tighten the grip against lawlessness. The suspects were arrested for various offences that include the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession and dealing in drugs and illicit cigarettes, selling fireworks without permits, murder, attempted murder, robberies, burglaries, assault, perjury, corruption, theft of motor vehicle and the contravention of the Road Traffic Act,” he explained.

Mojapelo indicated that 693 fines were issued for liquor related offences, which included drinking and being intoxicated in public places.

He highlighted some of the arrests:

Maake policing area:

On Saturday, 26 December, members of Limpopo Highway Patrol Team found a group of people gathered at a tavern which was still operating after the curfew. Police managed to disperse the crowd and two people, aged 28 and 32, were arrested for selling liquor in contravention with the regulations under the Disaster Management Act.

Mokwakwaila

A 34-year-old owner of an illegal liquor outlet at Mokwakwaila, where people attacked and damaged a police vehicle in the early hours of Christmas Day when the police were enforcing the law, was arrested on 27 December. The man will appear in the Bolobedu Magistrate’s court on Tuesday, 29 December.

Musina

Members recovered a Mercedes Benz that was reported stolen in Sunnyside and the foreign national driver was arrested.  

Jane Furse

The police in Jane Furse outside Lebowakgomo recovered a grey hatchback that was found abandoned at Vergelegen. The vehicle was allegedly hijacked at this area earlier this month.

Westernburg policing area

The police in Westenburg recovered a hatchback that was reported stolen at Wierdabrug in June this year, as well as another hatchback, which was reported stolen in Pretoria West this month. Two suspects were arrested.  

Mahwekereng

Two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested for business robbery and police recovered one firearm as well as cash, believed to be stolen during the robbery.  

Mokopane

A 21-year-old man was arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at Extension 12, Mokopane. He allegedly threatened his girlfriend with the firearm that he stole from his father, and a case of intimidation was also opened.  

Nebo policing area

A 30-year-old man was arrested for possession of dagga along the R579 in the Nebo policing area. The drugs were found hidden inside the suspect’s vehicle and police also confiscated a cash amount of money. Another suspect, aged 23, was arrested in the same area in a separate incident after he was found selling illicit cigarettes at his spaza shop. The cigarettes have an estimated street value of over R4 000.

Capricorn District

Members arrested a 36-year-old suspect at his house in Legae la Batho Extension in the Seshego policing area, for possession of dagga with an estimated street value of more than R1 000. 

Mojapelo said, in total, the police confiscated 26 firearms, 32 suspected stolen or hijacked motor vehicles, 66 dangerous weapons, liquor, illicit cigarettes, suspected stolen properties including electronic devices, cash as well as drugs such as nyaope, cat, crystal myth, crack, cocaine and dagga.

During these operations, 47 shebeens were also closed.

The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Maj Gen Jan Scheepers, applauded the members for their continuous dedication in fighting crime, especially the mushrooming of illegal firearms and drugs. 

The arrested suspects will appear before various magistrate’s courts soon and police investigations are continuing.