Over 1 400 suspects nabbed in weekly police operations

LIMPOPO – Provincial police officers have arrested 1 460 suspects between the ages of 22 and 45, during their recent weekly operations.

The operations were conducted through stop-and-searches, tracing of wanted suspects and roadblocks in all five districts of the province between July 26 and August 2.

A statement by police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo indicates that an additional 233 suspects were arrested for the contravention of the Disaster Management Act in the same period.

“Suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from murder, rape, robberies, assaults and smuggling of illicit goods to the contravention of the Immigration Act,” Mojapelo explained.

He highlighted some of the arrests:

Man arrested for rape

The police in Hoedspruit arrested a 38-year-old man for the rape of his 14-year-old niece at Finale village. He was arrested on Friday (July 30).

Murder and attempted murder

A 34-year-old man was positively linked to five cases of murder and attempted murder in Mpumalanga between March and June. He was arrested by members of Limpopo Highway Patrol and Mpumalanga Crime Intelligence.

Stolen vehicle and fraud

“A 30-year-old man was apprehended for the possession of a stolen vehicle, fraud and driving without a valid driver’s license at Bandelierkop on July 26,” Mojapelo explained.

Teacher arrested for theft

Members of a school governing body caught a school teacher at Rakgoadi, loading food from the school’s feeding scheme into her vehicle. “Police were alerted about the incident and she failed to explain why she put the food in her vehicle. She was then arrested for theft on July 24,” he added.

Unlicensed firearms and ammunition

“A 30-year-old man was nabbed at Tinmyne Little Rock Farm Sterkrivier for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as theft. Police were tipped off and recovered three firearms including a rifle with 276 rounds of ammunition, magazines and 29 empty cartridges. These firearms and ammunition were allegedly stolen in the Tinmyne policing area during June,” Mojapelo said.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man was arrested in Dennilton on July 28 for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, possession of explosives, possession of drugs, possession of a police uniform and the possession of handcuffs. “Other items including fake money, a two-way radio, a stun grenade and a detonator were also confiscated,” Mojapelo explained.

Dagga and contravention of Immigration Act

Police arrested three men between the ages of 22 and 39 for dealing in dagga, possession of dagga and the violation of the Immigration Act. “On July 29, the men were arrested in Westenburg Ext 71 and Seshego Ext 76. In Westenburg, police recovered 121 sachets of dagga with an estimated street value of R5 000 while they seized 50 sachets of dagga and four filters of illicit cigarettes in Seshego,” he added.

Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe appreciated the work of the members involved.

Mojapelo said some of the suspects have already appeared in various magistrate’s courts across the province.