LIMPOPO – The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has pleaded for more commitment from police officers, to ensure that residents of the province feel safe and protected by the police.
Hadebe made this plea as she complimented the work done by the men and women in blue, during recent intelligence-driven joint operations. Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said in a statement that the operations were conducted throughout the past week and that 1 269 suspects were arrested for various crimes.
“The suspects, aged between 20 and 62, were arrested for crimes which range from murder, robbery, rape, sexual assault to stock theft, theft of a motor vehicle, arson, shoplifting and drug-related crimes,” he explained.
Ngoepe said during the arrests, police seized 3 517 606 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, multiple dangerous weapons, a large amount of various drugs, as well as eight stolen vehicles. He added that 871 fines were issued for the Contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
Ngoepe highlighted some of the notable arrests:
Poaching
Seven men were arrested in the Hoedspruit policing area outside Phalaborwa under the Mopani District on Tuesday, 18 May.
“Police received a tip-off from members of the community about two bakkies travelling along the R40 between Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit. The Saps Hoedspruit members, together with the Provincial Endangered Species Unit supported by the Hoedspruit Farm Watch, reacted swiftly. The vehicles were spotted, stopped and the occupants were searched. Police recovered a hunting rifle, a silencer, three rounds of live ammunition and a large amount of cash concealed inside the vehicles,” Ngoepe added.
Furthermore, an unknown amount of foreign currency of cash was also found in their possession.
“The men, aged between 27 and 52, were arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as the conspiracy to commit poaching. The two vehicles were also confiscated,” he said.
Illicit cigarettes
The Saps Limpopo Highway Patrol Team seized illicit cigarettes worth millions of Rand during an operation that was conducted in the Vhembe district.
The operation comprised of detectives, crime intelligence members, first responders and farm watch members and was conducted on 15 May.
“Police received information about a white bakkie with two occupants, driving at a high speed along the N1 south from Makhado, heading towards Polokwane. The police tried to stop the vehicle but it sped off and a vehicle chase ensued until necessary measures were taken to stop the vehicle near Botlokwa. The suspects managed to flee from the vehicle while in motion and ran on foot to evade arrest,” Ngoepe added.
The vehicle was searched and police recovered boxes of illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R3 million. The vehicle was confiscated and a search for the suspects is ongoing.
Copper cables
The same team received information about a bakkie that was travelling along the R37 in the Mecklenburg policing area outside Burgersfort under the Sekhukhune district.
“On Saturday, 22 May at 00:40, police stopped the vehicle and found three men, who could not provide any permits to travel during the curfew period. The vehicle was searched and the police found 900kg of copper cables with an estimated street value of R200 000,” he said.
The men, aged between 33 and 62, were nabbed for being in possession of suspected stolen properties.
“A further charge of Contravention of the Immigration Act and the Disaster Management Act were also added to a 33-year-old suspect. The vehicle was also confiscated,” Ngoepe added.
The suspects arrested during these operations have already started appearing in various magistrate’s courts throughout the province, he concluded.
