Gauteng police remain committed to addressing the root causes of crime and recovering weapons that are used for the commission of serious and violent crimes that include murder and robbery. During this past weekend, police arrested more than one thousand five hundred (1500) suspects and recovered 14 unlicensed firearms and sorts of ammunition.
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. While 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 where the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, led a weekend integrated Operation O Kae Molao. 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.
Over five hundred (500) suspects were arrested in Tshwane District, 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. A total of eight stolen/hijacked vehicles were recovered and four unlicensed firearms were seized.
Over three hundred and eighty (380) suspects were nabbed in Johannesburg District as integrated law enforcement agencies made up of SAPS, Gauteng Traffic Police, Johannesburg Metro Police Department and other law enforcement agencies conducted crime prevention operations. Suspects were arrested for offences ranging from fraud, assault with intent to course grievous bodily harm, murder, dealing in drugs and rape.
Joint intelligence-driven operations were also effective and yielded positive results in Sedibeng and West Rand Districts where more than one hundred and ninety (190) suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of drugs.
Police management in the Gauteng Province appreciate members of the community who continue to work with the police in the fight against crime, as some of the suspects were arrested through the tip-offs received from the members of the public.
The arrested suspects will appear before various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng from Monday while others were released after paying admission of guilt fines.
