The establishment of task teams to address serious crimes in hotspot areas is paying off when three firearms and suspects were arrested in separate incidents in the Northern areas of Port Elizabeth this weekend. The team’s main focus is on suspected gang activities and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
It is alleged that on Friday, 14 September 2018 at about 18:45, the Bethelsdorp Task Team members were patrolling in Haggard Road in Greenfields when they noticed a male fidgeting with his pants as the vehicle approached him. On stopping and searching the person, the members retrieved a firearm tucked in his pants.
Twenty rounds of ammunition was also found in his bag which he was carrying. The 25 year old, a known gang member was arrested and detained for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. He will appear in court on Monday, 17 September 2018.
On Saturday, 15 September 2018, at about 01:00 in a joint operation by the Visible Gang Intervention Unit, Cluster Crime Combating Unit and Public Order Policing ,members were patrolling when they noticed 3 males walking in Voissen Street.
It is alleged that as the police approached them, one of the males hastily separated from the group and walked into a yard. The police officers followed him into the yard and he was seen hiding something under a mat. When police lifted the mat, they found a .357 Magnum pistol and 6 rounds of ammunition. The suspect was arrested and detained on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On Saturday, 15 September 2018 at about 09:30, the Bethelsdorp Task Team were patrolling the Vastrap area members when they noticed a known gang member walking down an unknown street. As the police vehicle stopped alongside the person, he was seen throwing something away.
The suspect was searched and 7 sticks of dagga was found on him. The bag that was tossed away contained a 9mm pistol. The 23 year old suspect was arrested and detained on charges of possession of drugs and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is expected to appear in court on Monday, 17 September 2018.
Mount Road Cluster Commander, Maj Gen Thembisile Patekile has commended the teams working in unison in the Northern areas. ‘We will continue with our task teams operating in these hotspot areas. Criminals cannot and will not be allowed to freely commit crimes involving the use of firearms. Our members are commended for constantly keeping an alert eye on suspected persons and we can only achieve our objectives when these persons are stopped, searched and arrested. A firearm out of the hands of a criminal results in less serious crimes being committed.’ added Maj Gen Patekile.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
