801 arrests made thanks to operation Thata Zonke

LIMPOPO – Thanks to the operation Thata Zonke which stopped this morning, 801 suspects between the age of 21 and 49, have been arrested in various parts of the province.

The clean-up operation comprised of crime prevention members, Crime Intelligence Units, detectives, the Public Order Police Unit and the Tactical Response Team and were conducted through intensive patrols, stop and searches, road blocks and the tracing of wanted suspects at various crime infested areas.

According to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, the suspects were arrested for various offences which ranged from business and residential burglary, public drinking, contravention of the Liquor Act, possession of drugs, fraud, theft, theft of motor vehicle, contravention of the Immigration Act, rape, possession of suspected stolen properties, assault as well as armed and business robberies.

Notable items which were confiscated during the arrests include cash to the amount of R12 900, 4 041 cigarettes, dagga and dagga plants, multiple cellphones, three motor vehicles, four firearms and 315 rounds of live ammunition as well as 6 000 litres of alcohol.

Ngoepe added that 1 142 fines were issued for various contraventions including that of the Liquor Act.

“These arrested suspects have already started appearing before various Magistrate’s Courts throughout the province,” the statement reads.

Some of the notable arrests includes two suspects aged 32 and 40, arrested in Botlokwa outside Polokwane, for the possession of stolen properties.

“The duo were transporting tower batteries along the N1 north road next to Ga- Phasha village, when their motor vehicle experienced a puncture. Police stopped and searched their vehicle and recovered 23 tower batteries with the estimated value of over R200 000.
These two suspects have appeared before the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court and their case were postponed to 26 March forformal bail application and further police investigations,” Ngoepe said.

Another notable arrest was made in the Makhado policing area, where police confiscated illicit cigarettes after they recovered an abandoned vehicle on the Magau gravel road next to the railway line.

According to Ngoepe, the police in Tshilwavhusiku outside Makhado were tipped off about a vehicle carrying the illicit goods and searched for the vehicle. The vehicle was spotted and the police tried to stop the vehicle but the driver did not stop and a chase ensued with assistance from the nearest police.

The vehicle was later found abandoned and about 2 490 cartons of illicit cigarettes to the estimated value of over R600 000 were confiscated.

“The suspects are still unknown and no arrests have been made yet. Police have launched a manhunt and anyone with information, may contact Col Nyelisani Mabatha at 082 565 8171.”