The collaborative efforts of the South African Police Service in Limpopo continue to clean the streets of criminal activities in all the five Districts following the arrest of 1319 suspects aged between 18 and 46 during weekly simultaneous joint operations that were conducted from 20 March until today, 28 March 2022.
The suspects were arrested for various offences including murder, robberies, carjacking, theft, rape and sexual offences, unlawful possession of firearms and dealing in drugs and illicit cigarettes, stock theft and fraud.
In one of the operations, members of the Highway Patrol on Monday, 28 March 2022 at about 09:00, received information about the existence of a Ford Ranger which was reported hijacked under Tubatse policing area and was at GA-Phasha village in the Burgersfort policing area. A snap operation involving Polokwane TRT, Modimolle POPs, Burgersfort K9 Unit and Highway Patrol was then activated.
Further police investigations revealed that the owner of the tavern aged 36, had an agreement with the lawful owner of the said vehicle who owes him money, that he would keep the vehicle until he had paid him the outstanding balance. A case of perjury was opened and the 46-year-old suspect was arrested.
Police also recovered a brand new Toyota Hilux on 28 March 2022 at about 17: 45 on the N1 North near Botlokwa bypass. The vehicle was reported stolen in Brooklyn, Gauteng province and the 33-year-old male foreign suspect was arrested. The suspect was also charged with contravention of the immigration Act.
During the same operations, the members also received another information about a hijacked Toyota Quantum in Mecklenburg and that the suspect was driving towards Lebowakgomo. The vehicle was seen at a filling station in Atok. Police gave chase after the vehicle sped off. An unknown number of suspects jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. The vehicle was confiscated and the search for the suspects continues.
Enforcement on compliance with the Liquor Act was also enhanced which resulted in 305 fines being issued and 41 shebeens shut down. Police also confiscated 4375ml of liquor.
During the course of these operations, Police also seized 9 firearms, 39 knives, 5 stolen vehicles, 239.45 grams of dagga, 18 dagga plants, 2228 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, Khat and Nyaope drugs.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Major General Jan Scheepers has commended the various Police Units for their determination to deal with crime head-on and has called upon community members to report any crime or suspicious activity to the police immediately.
Some of the arrested suspects have started appearing before various magistrate’s courts across the province.
