Lentswe, Klerksdorp - The police, working with other law enforcement agencies, conducted several joint law enforcement operations under Operation Shanela 2 throughout the province between August 11 and 17. The operations included the setting of 11 roadblocks, searching of 443 premises, 3 004 persons and 1 197 vehicles. A further 181 stop and searches were conducted and compliance inspections at liquor-selling outlets were conducted, leading to the closure of 22 unlicensed liquor premises.
Detectives also participated in the tracing of wanted suspects and arrested a total of 392 suspects for a variety of crimes, linked through fingerprints and DNA.
The operations resulted in a total of 1 137 arrests and recoveries of among others; 7 cellular phones, four firearms, 31 rounds of ammunition, a variety of drugs and more than a 1000 litres of liquor.
Col Adele Myburgh, police spokesperson, said the arrested suspects included 63 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, four for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, 144 for possession of drugs, 42 for illegal dealing in liquor, 317 for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and common assault, 32 for rape, and 64 for burglaries at residential and business premises. A total of 156 illegal immigrants were processed by the Department of Home affairs, of which 27 were arrested by the Vala Umgodi team in the Bojanala Platinum District. The team seized numerous mining related equipment, including jack hammers, drill bits, generators, 13.75 kg of gold bearing material and pendukas.
“In Delareyville, information received on August 16, led to the arrest of a 20-year-old male for possession of suspected stolen property. According to information, a warrant of arrest was issued after the accused failed to re-appear before court. He was traced to Vrischgewacht Village and appeared before the Delareyville Magistrates’ Court on August 18.”
Myburgh added in Rustenburg over the weekend, information received led police to the CBD and Boitekong at Ramochana new stands, where two men, aged 23 and 27, were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property.
Cellular phones to an estimated value of R180 000 were recovered by police. The duo appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on August 18.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of the North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “These weekly High Density Joint Law Enforcement operations are going to continue especially at all the province’s high contact crimes police stations. All law abiding citizens are therefore, requested to work closely with their local Community Policing Forums/ Community Safety Structures and Station Commanders to create safe and secure communities, especially for the vulnerable and defenceless women, children and the elderly, who continue to experience gratuitous violent sexual assaults, rapes, robberies and murders.”
