GAUTENG. – According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Mavela Masondo, most of the suspects were arrested during the tracing of wanted suspects and operations that include stop and searches in various parts of the province.
“Police intelligence observations during routine patrols and tip-offs from the community led to the discovery of most unlicensed firearms.
“More than 460 people were arrested in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni District where the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, led a weekend integrated Operation O Kae Molao. Suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from murder, robbery, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and tampering with essential infrastructure.
In Tshwane District, 500 suspects were arrested. 200 were nabbed during the tracing of wanted suspects by the detective teams. They were found to have committed serious and violent crimes such as rape, murder, car hijacking, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
“A total of eight stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered and four unlicensed firearms were seized. Over three hundred and eighty (380) suspects were nabbed in Johannesburg District. Suspects were arrested for offences ranging from fraud, assault with intent to course grievous bodily harm, murder, dealing in drugs and rape.”
Masondo reports that joint intelligence-driven operations were also effective and yielded positive results in Sedibeng and West Rand Districts where 190 suspects were arrested for various crimes.
“Police management in the Gauteng Province appreciates members of the community who continue to work with the police in the fight against crime, as some of the suspects were arrested through the tip-offs received from the members of the public.
The arrested suspects will appear before various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng while others were released after paying admission of guilt fines.
