BRITS POS - MAJAKANENG - In the early hours of Wednesday morning, 6 August, the South African Police Service (SAPS) executed a very successful intelligence led multidisciplinary Cordon and Search operation in Majakaneng, east of Mooinooi near Brits.
“The operation, which was led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Policing, Major General Olifant, and the District Commissioner of Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 1, Major General Mosimanegape, comprised of more than 200 officers and members of the South African Police (SAPS) from the Public Order Police (POP), Tactical Response Team (TRT) Mounted police, K9-handlers and dogs, Visible Policing, Detectives as well as other PROVJOINTS departments and Force multipliers from ESKOM, Immigration, Private Security Companies and Mooinooi members of the Community In Blue,” says Captain Mpho Manyoba, SAPS North West spokesperson.
“The Cordon and Search operation was approved after the District Commissioner had identified the area as the district hotspot for serious crimes, which could not be addressed through normal daily operations. The Cordon and Search was a tremendous success as illustrated by the arrests and confiscations made.
“The arrests include those that were made for dealing in drugs, illegal dealing in liquor and contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002.”
The following items were seized during the operation:
*A Hyundai Tucson vehicle, which is believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.
*A variety of drugs that included nyaope, crystal meth, mandrax, rock and dagga, all with an estimated street value of R204 640.
*Liquor
In addition, ESKOM Technicians supported by the police visited 14 sites which they had identified as hotbeds for theft of electricity through illegal connections to the energy grid. According to ESKOM, these illegal electricity connections cost the Utility loss of much needed revenue in millions of Rands while at the same time placing lives of the entire Energy infrastructure at risk.
Significantly, a suspect was arrested after the vehicle he was driving was stopped by the police in the area where two AK47s Automatic Rifles,160 rounds of ammunition and four AK 47 magazines were discovered hidden in a secret compartment under the vehicle.
During the interrogation of the suspect, he and the firearms were linked to a business robbery incident that had occurred on Wednesday night in Marikana where a local wholesale business safe and two ATMs were blown up with explosives by an estimated 10 heavily armed suspects who had even shot at the police who were on patrol.
The suspect has since been detained and a team from the Provincial Serious Organized Crime is busy following up on leads. More arrests are expected.
The North West Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said that the operation is an emphatic and unrelenting warning message that the full might of the police will be unleashed on those who are hellbent on undermining the rule of law and authority of the state. “This is the beginning of the intensification of the war against anarchy and lawlessness not only in Majakaneng, but also at other identified crime hotspots across the province,” he concluded.
