According to Captain Mavela Masondo from SAPS Corporate Communication, the police in Gauteng arrested more than 2 100 suspects in January, as well as recovering numerous illegal firearms.
The arrests were made during intelligence-driven operations in various areas within the province. Police conducted roadblocks, foot patrols, stop-and-search operations, tracing of wanted suspects and raiding of illegal liquor outlets. Suspects were arrested for various offences, including murder, house robbery, business robbery, possession of suspected hijacked vehicle, rape, possession of drugs and child abuse.
In Johannesburg, the police arrested 340 suspects for various crimes, including house robbery, fraud, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Ekurhuleni
Police arrested 181 suspects, after holding intelligence-driven operations in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies. The SAPS would like to applaud the community members who come forward to assist the police curb crime. Two common robbery suspects were recently arrested with the help of the community in Tembisa.
Soweto and Tshwane
The police raided the hostels and conducted stop-and-search operations. As a result, two AK-47 assault rifles were recovered and 751 suspects were arrested for crimes such as assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault common, armed robbery, common robbery, hijacking, murder, rape, contravention of protection order and dealing in drugs.
Midrand
While responding to a house robbery complaint, officers came across a silver Toyota Avanza with no registration plates. When they tried to stop it, the driver sped off and one of the suspects threw a firearm out of the window of the vehicle. Then the suspects started shooting and the police, who were in hot pursuit, returned fire. During the chase, the suspect’s vehicle overturned and the police consequently arrested one suspect and recovered one unlicensed firearm with ammunition and a filed-off serial number.
West Rand
The police arrested a total of 435 suspects after conducting a number of operations. A murder suspect was arrested in Kokosi after he stabbed and killed a 40-year-old man. Other suspects were arrested for crimes like possession of dagga, dealing in dagga, theft, assault, business robbery and pointing of a firearm.
The arrested suspects are expected to appear in different courts within the province.
Members of the community are urged to continue reporting suspicious persons and vehicles to the police by phoning the emergency number, which is 10111, or Crime Stop on 0860010111, or sending an SMS to Crime Line on 32211.
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