Lentswe, Klerksdorp - The police had a busy time at the end of July with 1 778 suspects arrested throughout the province. As part of stamping the authority of the state, High Density Operation Shanela 2 operations conducted between July 14 and 27 resulted in various arrests for different transgressions across the province.
The operations, among others, focused on stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects, the confiscation of illegal firearms as well as visits to 299 liquor outlets and taverns.
“The arrested suspects include 63 for murder, 73 for robbery, 60 for rape, 593 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and common, 49 for burglary at business and residential premises, 139 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 143 for contravention of the Immigration Act, 55 for illegal dealing in liquor, 154 for possession of drugs and ten for illegal possession of firearms,” said Brig Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson.
Out of the 1 778 suspects, 867 were circulated wanted suspects nabbed after being linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads, while 57 arrests were made by the Vala Umgodi team.
Furthermore, police confiscated seven firearms, 56 rounds of ammunition, eight vehicles, 22 cellular phones, 5kg of copper cable, liquor, tobacco products and a variety of drugs.
In Potchefstroom, Ramontsho David Fepane (45), a police sergeant who works at Viljoenskroon police station, and three accomplices, Patrick Banda (37), Paul Mashwe Sethetso (47) and Thabiso Mobonga (23), appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on July 28, for illegal hunting and trespassing. They were remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Their appearance stems from an incident reported late at night on July 24, on the grounds of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Potchefstroom.
Members of Flying Squad were called to a scene after a Toyota bakkie was stopped by SANDF members on patrol. The four men were found inside the vehicle as well as a bontebok carcass, knives and a hunting rifle. They were arrested on charges of illegal hunting and trespassing and the rifle and carcass seized.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, said that these high number of arrests and the recovery of illegal firearms, drugs and other dangerous weapons within a period of a week are an irrefutable attestation of the potency of Operation Shanela 2, which is intended to address the high levels of serious and violent crimes in identified hotspots.
“These weekly High Density Intelligence operations will continue especially over weekends and on pay days to deal decisively with rampant lawlessness, anarchy including drunkenness,” said Major General Asaneng.
