POLOKWANE – Several foreign nationals went scurrying out of vehicles on Friday evening at a police roadblock at the R71 and N1 intersection.
The officers in blue held the roadblock between 20:30 and 22:30, stopping and searching all vehicles that moved into the city from the respective entry points at this intersection.
One of two men who fled out of a sedan and into the nearby bushes, could not present an identity document and was arrested and taken to the Polokwane Police Station. Asked why he had attempted to run off, the man told Polokwane Observer that he did not have his passport documentation with him.
The police could not locate the other man.
Several vehicles suspected of non-compliance were also confiscated during the operation.
These included a suspected new bakkie without a licence disk. The driver could also not present a driver’s licence card, and was subsequently taken to the holding cells, along with drivers who were arrested for driving under the influence.
From around 23:00, the police patrolled parts of Rabe, Genl Joubert and Bok streets in an attempt to follow up on leads with regard to prostitution and drug dealings.
In Rabe Street, the police found a group of suspected prostitutes in a rented compound, many who reported to originally be from Lesotho.
These patrols all form part of the police’s district based Kukula operation (translated to ‘sweep’) to deal with any criminal activities, according to police spokesperson, Col Malesela Ledwaba.
Similar operations were performed in Mankweng, Vhembe and Mopani.