More than 1000 suspects arrested in Gauteng SAPS operation

South African Police Service

More than 1000 suspects arrested in Gauteng SAPS operation
More than 1000 suspects arrested in Gauteng SAPS operation

More than 1000 suspects have been arrested in and around Gauteng during the recent Operation O Kae Molao on Thursday, 20 February 2020. The operation was led by Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lt General Elias Mawela accompanied by the MEC for Community Safety, Ms Faith Mazibuko and Tshwane District Commissioner Major General Tommy Mthombeni.

Detective raids and tracing of wanted suspects led to the arrest of 728 suspects for various crimes. In Sedibeng 58 wanted suspects linked to serious and violent crimes were nabbed while in West Rand 64 suspects were nabbed, whereas in Ekurhuleni 206 suspects were arrested, Tshwane and Johannesburg arrested 400 suspects respectively. The suspects arrested include 107 suspects who were wanted for gender based violence 105 who were wanted for crimes against women and two against the children, as well as crimes such as murder, robbery, carjacking, assault, robbery, possessions of stolen property and other crimes.

Lieutenant General Mawela and MEC Mazibuko led the operations in Ga-Rankuwa where they visited a road block and during the roadblock cars and people were searched and fines were issued.

Furthermore in West Rand, six illegal liquor outlets were closed and fines were issued in second hands goods dealers. During the operation large volumes of liquor were confiscated. More vehicles were impounded for being unroadworthy and also some for being suspected as stolen. Some issued with fines for driving with expired licenses. Meanwhile, dagga was confiscated in Alexandra and in Johannesburg CBD more stolen property were also seized during the search of the buildings

In Soweto operations were conducted and suspects were arrested for illegal gambling, possession of dagga and dealing in drugs while another were nabbed for possession of suspected stolen property. Ten illegal liquor outlets were closed down and litres of alcohol confiscated.

In Edenvale police were showing high visibility which led to the arrest of suspects one in full police uniform, the suspects were arrested during stop and search. More vehicles were discontinued while fines amounting to thousands of rands were also issued at the roadblocks.

Four suspects were arrested in Roodepoort for possession of drugs and more illegal mining equipment were confiscated and fines issued for various contravention including the illegal trading.

The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela extend a word of appreciation to all members of the SAPS, Gauteng Traffic Police, and all Metro Police Departments, as well as other stakeholders in the law enforcement fraternity such as SARS – Customs, Green Scorpions, Home Affairs, Tracker, Data Dot for their continued support of Operation O Kae Molao.

All arrested suspects will appear before various Magistrate Courts within the province in due course.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service