GAUTENG. – The past week saw the South African Police Service in Gauteng led by the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela re-introduce the revamped Operation O Kae Molao.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili says, “From the evening of Wednesday, 8 September 2021 suspects raiding operations to Thursday and Friday roadblocks, stop and searches, liquor and second hand goods compliance inspections which led to 969 total arrests and the seizures of suspected stolen property, liquor and firearms.
“The Provincial Commissioner led the multi-disciplinary stakeholder operation in Tshwane, Mamelodi on Thursday while District Commissioners in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and West Rand simultaneously led operations in their respective districts.”
Stakeholders participating in the operation included, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, West Rand and Tshwane Metropolitan Police Departments, Departments of Correctional Services and Home Affairs, PRASA, Gauteng Traffic, officials from Gauteng Community Safety, Tracker, 1Track Security, Fidelity Security, Community Policing Forum, Community in Blue Patrollers and Gauteng Liquor Board.
“Of the arrested suspects, 200 were caught for gender-based violence and femicide-related offences while 14 were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and 80 are undocumented immigrants.
“Others were charged with various crimes including possession of unlicensed firearms, assault GBH and dealing in drugs.”
Liquor compliance on the other hand resulted in the closing of 45 liquor outlets operating without a license and two liquor outlets owners were charged for non-compliance with the Disaster Management Act regulations for trading after stipulated hours.
The police seized 3 031 600 ml of liquor from the liquor outlets that were closed. The team that worked with vehicle tracking companies and SAPS Vehicle Identification Unit recovered eight vehicles with positive cases, stolen or hijacked and 17 vehicles that had their engines tampered with and four vehicles were discontinued.
Other seizures included 13 040,64 grams of dagga, 37 tables of mandrax, crystal meth, 42 sachets of nyaope, two unlicensed firearms and over R13 000 in cash.
Lt Gen Mawela was, at the end of the operations, satisfied with the positive impact that Operation O Kae Molao had made with regards to the deterrence of crime in the province due to the high visibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies.
“The successes obtained from this operation alone are indicative of the commitment that law enforcement agencies, the community, civil society and private stakeholders have in reducing the levels of crime Gauteng,” said Lt Gen Mawela.
