The rounding up the weekend safer festive season operations has yield results where 976 suspects were arrested across all districts in Gauteng. The arrest comes after Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, together with the MEC for Community Safety, Ms Faith Mazibuko took to the streets of Soweto.
This joint operation aimed to also assess the levels of adherence to and ensure compliance with the COVID-19 level 1 newly tightened restrictions. General Mawela has expressed concern about people who continue to undermine the lockdown regulations.
“We will continue to intensify our operations throughout the duration of the festive season to ensure that people are safe and to enforce compliance with regulations. Police visibility will be intensified at the taxi ranks, bus terminals, national roads and other port of entries as more people are expected to leave Gauteng this coming week,”
Mawela stated that the arrest comes as more people were found at the packed liquor outlets without wearing masks and observing social distancing.
“In Naledi, Soweto, people gathered at “a street bash” at 01h30, way after the curfew time. In Johannesburg District, 118 people were arrested. Out of these arrests, 52 were found driving while under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
Meanwhile, two popular Soweto liquor outlets were closed down and liquor confiscated for contravening lockdown regulations. Other suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of drugs, illegal gambling, assault, attempted theft of the motor vehicle, theft, reckless and negligent driving.
West Rand District embarked on various operations over the weekend and saw more than 184 people arrested. Other suspects were arrested for crime ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, car hijacking, murder, robbery, rape and assault.
Over 400 people were arrested by the police in Tshwane. This comes after the police engaged in the tracing of wanted suspects, raiding of liquor outlets, roadblocks as well as stop and searches.
Suspects, aged between 20 and 55 were arrested on charges such as murder, rape and burglary business. Stolen motor vehicles and unlicensed firearms were recovered during these operations while 15 illegal liquor outlets were closed down.
Police in Sedibeng District have also arrested 69 suspects for different crimes. Multidisciplinary operations also ensured that people are adhering to lockdown regulations. 269 suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni for crimes that include assault, dealing in drugs and driving while under the influence of alcohol.
