The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, was joined by Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Councillor Mpho Phalatse as he led yet another Operation O Kae Molao in Johannesburg which resulted in multiple arrests of suspects who committed serious and violent crimes.
The operation started with the tracing of wanted suspects on Friday evening, 21 January 2022, during which detectives arrested five hundred and seventy-eight suspects who have been on the run after committing serious and violent crimes that include murder, rape, armed robbery, sexual assault and car hijacking.
In the second phase of Operation O Kae Molao, police conducted roadblocks to ensure that there were no illegal goods and substances transported by the road users and to search for stolen/hijacked vehicles. During this roadblock police recovered drugs, a suspected stolen vehicle and arrested more than 50 people for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Furthermore, police raided liquor outlets that are operating illegally and houses that are hijacked and suspected to be harbouring criminals in Orange Groove and Norwood, Johannesburg.
Two popular liquor outlets situated in Norwood were closed down and owners arrested after it was discovered that they do not have proper documentations allowing them to operate such a business.
Similar operations were conducted simultaneously in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, West Rand and Sedibeng districts where more than 1900 suspects were arrested after committing various crimes.
Lieutenant General Mawela is pleased with the collaboration of law enforcement agencies and other government departments that are on a weekly basis joining Operation O Kae Molao, ensuring that people in Gauteng are and feel safe. “I would like to thank the Mayor of Johannesburg, senior officers from different government departments, private security companies, members of the media and volunteers from the community for sacrificing their night to be with us as we stamp the authority of the state in Norwood. Pulling together we can bring crime to its minimal,” said Lieutenant General Mawela.
Arrested suspects will appear at different Magistrate’s Court in due course.
