Pretoria - Police in Gauteng have vowed to intensify their crime-busting efforts throughout the festive season after they arrested 1 669 suspects for various offences at the weekend.
The arrests were made in different parts of the province during the Safer Festive Operation O Kae Molao led by Gauteng provincial police commissioner General Elias Mawela.
At least 320 of the 1 669 suspects were caught during an anti-crime blitz operation in the Tshwane district.
In addition, police shut down 30 illegal shebeens and confiscated 609 650 ml of liquor.
Mawela led the Joburg district operations conducted in Booysens and Diepkloof policing precincts, which collectively resulted in the arrest of 501 suspects.
The arrests were thanks to multi-disciplinary operations by the Joburg metro police, Gauteng traffic officers and stakeholders from the Department of Home Affairs and Department of Community Safety.
Also part of the crime-fighting campaign were Booysens and Diepkloof local councillors, community policing forum, and patrollers.
Private security firms Tracker and Fidelity through the Eyes and Ears Project were also on board.
Using advanced technological equipment, Tracker assisted the police at the roadblocks to detect stolen or hijacked vehicles.
Fidelity, on the other hand, deployed one of their helicopters and a drone to assist the police on the ground.
In Ekurhuleni, police embarked on an anti-crime operation, arresting 462 suspects in Vosloorus. At least 15 of the suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and six illegal shebeens were closed.
In the Sedibeng district, the multiple operations that were conducted resulted in the arrest of 198 suspects for offences such as drunken driving, assault, GBH, sexual offences and the possession of drugs.
On the other hand, the West Rand district netted 188 suspects, including six for rape, murder and attempted murder.
Mawela said: “We will continue with operation O Kae Molao because we know that criminals do not care that it is the festive season, they continue to cause havoc in our communities. I am glad that we have happy boots on the ground as our multi-disciplinary forces achieve commendable successes.”
He applauded the commitment of all stakeholders involved in safer festive operations aimed at reducing the levels of crime during this period.
Police said all the arrested suspects would appear before the various magistrate’s courts in the province.
Pretoria News