POLOKWANE – The operation was led by the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba and it commenced with a parade at the Provincial -Joint Operation Centre commanded by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Policing, Major General Jan Scheepers.
The Polokwane Cluster Commander Major General Sam Mokgonyana, the Provincial VISPOL Section Heads; Brigadier Mangena-Operational Cordination, Brigadier Tinyani-ORS, Brigadier Maila-Crime Prevention and members derived from Seshego, Mankweng and Polokwane Clusters were also in attendance.
Maj Genl Jan Scheepers, welcomed policemen from Polokwane, Mankweng and Seshego at the Provincial Joint Operational Centre (ProvJOC) in Ladanna. He said Limpopo was the number one province in one crime prevention and that it was thanks to the men in blue. He explained that there would be a four -hour long road block where vehicles would be searched held on the N1, starting as from 10:00.
Before the men dispersed he wished them all God’s blessings and a wonderful Christmas.
Immediately after the parade, a full blown roadblock was staged along the N1 South between Polokwane and Mokopane outside Polokwane.
The objective of the operation was to strengthen the road Policing strategies for a safer festive season period and to sensitise all motorists about the prevalence of crime trends by distributing the crime prevention hints.
“During this road-block, some of the thousands of cars that passed through the roadblock and people were searched thoroughly from both sides of the road and those found to be in-contravention of any law such as the Road Traffic Act, were issued with ‘spot fines’. The focus was also on other illegal items such as unlicensed firearms, stolen motor vehicles, dangerous weapons and wanted suspects,” according to Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, SAPS provincial Spokesperson.
Three thousand pamphlets on crime prevention hints were distributed.
The following activities were carried out during the operation:
• 271 motor vehicles were searched
• 1201 people were searched
• 67 Road Traffic Act summons were issued
• 12 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested.
The Operations are ongoing.