VANDERBIJLPARK – Following a number of Okae Molao operations in the area, law enforcement agencies confidently said they have witnessed a downward trend and getting more success through arrests of perpetrators linked to house and business robberies.
This was said by the Acting Sedibeng District Cluster Commissioner Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu during an installment of this traditional operation on Saturday, March 4.
Dressed in his police uniform and reflecting vests, Nkhwashu joined scores of law enforcers during a roadblock on Barrage Road.
Several illegal shebeens were hit by a group of officers in and around the Civic Centre and Bophelong.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Nkhwashu said they [law enforcers] are making progress in reducing crime in the area.
“We are making inroads in Vanderbijlpark since the spark of contact crimes including property crime [house and business robberies]. As we sat for the presentation before we joined the operation, the station commander presented crime stats which showed a decrease since the last quarter. We have seen a downward trend when it comes to robberies aggravating [house and business robberies],” he said.
Nkhwashu added that more suspects are being arrested for the above-mentioned crimes with many set to appeal in court.
“We continue to do our job and make sure that stubborn areas are targeted. We are going to bring more of these weekly operations in this area and continue to arrest more lawbreakers. We are not going to ignore Vanderbijlpark just because we are seeing a downward trend,” he added.
During the operation, about 60 wanted suspects were arrested for various crimes by the Detective’s trace team.
“These most wanted suspects were brought to book for crimes such as murder, rape, house and business robberies, and car hijackings. We also managed to arrest 21 undocumented suspects, one suspect for possession of illegal firearms, one suspect for dealing in drugs, and 10 drunk drivers.
“We also issued traffic fines to drivers who don’t abide by road rules,” he said.
