Police officers were out in full force in Sandton for Operation Okae Molao which resulted in the arrests of more than 280 people.
The operation took place in the Sandton and Randburg policing precincts and saw officers travelling to Woodmead, Bryanston and the Randburg Central Business District which are crime hotspots.
According to Captain Granville Meyer, Operation Okae Molao started on 31 July with Gauteng detectives targeting suspects wanted for violence against women and children. Meyer said 126 suspects were arrested, 29 who were suspected of committing crimes against women and children. These included suspects wanted for rape, sexual assault, assault and common assault.
The operation continued on 1 August with Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela Gauteng’s Police Commissioner in attendance. Meyer said the operation resulted in the arrests of 168 suspects as well as the recovery of stolen motor vehicles, counterfeit goods and drugs. He added that six liquor outlets were visited of which two liquor outlets were closed in Sandton and Randburg. More than 190 litres of liquor was also confiscated.
The police also issued fines that amounted to R99 700 and five vehicles were impounded.
Mawela said, “We experience a lot of hijackings, business robberies and house robberies and the so-called Rolex Gang robberies, so we decided that this time around we are going to send a message that there is no place to hide, including in Sandton.”
He added that crime in Gauteng didn’t discriminate and people from all works of life were affected and criminals would seek any opportunity to commit crime.
Makhura said at the start of Women’s Month there was a focus on crimes that affected women and children and they addressed gender-based violence in the province. He added that 447 people were arrested around the province during the two-day operation.
Meyer added that no serious and violent crimes occurred during the period of the operation in both policing precincts.
The arrested suspects will appear in various courts in due course.
Details: Sandton Police Station 011 722 4200.
Share your thoughts on the operation on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page
Related Articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/232411/two-men-suspects-arrested-and-one-killed-during-break-in-in-parkmore/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/232476/suspect-nabbed-for-housebreaking-in-wendywood/
