Gauteng police arrested more than 1070 suspects over the weekend and 150 of those were found driving while under the influence of alcohol. The suspects were arrested during O Kae Molao Operations, tracing of wanted suspects and routine police stop and search in various parts of the province from Friday 21 May 2021 until Sunday 23 May 2021.
The suspects were found to have committed serious and violent crimes such as rape, sexual assault, murder, car hijacking, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery, theft, fraud, possession of drugs, possession of suspected stolen property and possession of unlicensed firearms.
In balancing both the crime fighting and enforcement of adjusted level one lockdown regulations, police arrested over 70 people for contravention of the National Disaster Management Act.
Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela was joined by MEC for Community Safety Ms Faith Mazibuko when he led integrated law enforcement agencies in Kagiso, West Rand. It was during this operation that police arrested more than 40 drunk drivers at a roadblock.
One hundred and thirty-eight other suspects were arrested in West Rand for crime that includes possession of drugs, armed robbery, murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Intensified crime combatting operations were conducted in Johannesburg, including Soweto, where more than 165 suspects were arrested for crime ranging from rape, murder, assault, theft, intimidation, pointing of firearm and robbery.
Over 310 suspects were nabbed in Tshwane District by the integrated law enforcement agencies made up of SAPS, Metro Police Department and Gauteng Traffic Police. These suspects were arrested for crime ranging from assault, possession of suspected stolen property, reckless and negligent driving and dealing in drugs,
Joint intelligence-driven operations were also effective and yielded positive results in Ekurhuleni District where 363 suspects were arrested for crimes that include assault, robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of drugs.
Police in Sedibeng District arrested 58 suspects for committing offences that include murder, burglary at residential premises, theft, robbery and selling liquor without licence.
The arrested suspects will appear in various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng in due course.
