In an effort to fight crime in the province and enforce the law, the police in Gauteng arrested more than one thousand five hundred (1500) suspects, including wanted suspects during several operations that were conducted throughout the province over the weekend.
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 spokesperson Mavela Masondo said police intelligence observations during routine patrols and tip-offs from the community led to the discovery of most unlicensed firearms.
“More than four hundred and sixty (460) people were arrested in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni District. The operations which included roadblocks and stop & searches saw suspects being arrested for crimes ranging from murder, robbery, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and tampering with essential infrastructure.”
Masondo said over five hundred (500) suspects were arrested in Tshwane District and amongst those arrested, two hundred (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,” he said.
A total of eight stolen/hijacked vehicles were recovered and four unlicensed firearms were seized.
“The arrested suspects will appear before various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng from Monday while others were released after paying admission of guilt fines,”
