In a bid to curb crime in the Free State, the police joined forces with several law enforcement agencies in the province to net 918 people in the province during Operation Shanela.
Police worked hand in hand with private security companies, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of Small Businesses, the Department of Labour, the Traffic Department and other law enforcement agencies.
The actions included 255 premises-, 6083 persons- and 2166 vehicles being searched.
Seven roadblocks were conducted, of which one was in Bethlehem on Friday, where motorists were surprised by the high visibility on the road. Police also visited malls in and around Bohlokong and Bethlehem, where the Provincial Commissioner of the Police in the Free State, Lieutenant General Motswenyane, interacted with the community in a soft-approach policing strategy.
Police inspected 241 licenced liquor premises, 103 second-hand dealers and 40 scrapyards/recyclers in the Province.
During these inspections, eight notices were issued to second-hand dealers. Police and relevant stakeholders visited 83 informal businesses like spaza shops to ensure labour law compliance. In another action, the police, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour visited 760 farms to ensure labour law compliance, which also increased visibility in rural areas.
Of the seven people arrested for murder, three were women who were arrested for allegedly murdering their partners in Tseki, Koffiefontein and Clarens.
Police also arrested 33 for being in possession of a dangerous weapon, 54 for drug-related offences, 10 for armed robbery, two for business robbery, three for house robbery, nine for attempted murder, 93 for assault GBH, 84 for common assault, two for business burglary, 20 for residential burglary, 24 for malicious damage to property and 15 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
One of them was arrested near Verkeerdevlei on the N1, where the truck driver also tried to bribe a police officer on Friday afternoon.
Police also arrested 381 wanted suspects in tracing operations by the detective services. Police confiscated about 1 195 litres of alcohol, 31 dangerous weapons, dagga, crack cocaine, tik, nyope and mandrax.
In her interaction with the community, the provincial commissioner of the police in the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, thanked them for the positive reaction that allowed the police the space to do their work. “I want to assure the community that we will be out in full force every week to make a difference in the province. We are here to carry out our mandate, which is to prevent and combat anything that may threaten the safety and security of any community, investigate all crimes that threaten the safety and security of any community, ensure offenders are brought to justice and participate in efforts to address the root causes of crime,” she said.
