The ongoing simultaneous joint operations conducted in all five Districts in this province, continue to make tremendous impact following the arrest of two thousand and twenty five (2025) suspects aged between 18 and 55, for various offences including murder, attempted murder, rape, stock theft, dealing in drugs, unlawful possession of firearms and Contravention of the Immigration Act.
The operations were conducted from 9 October until 16 October 2022, comprised of members of the South African Police Service derived from the Crime Intelligence unit, Limpopo Highway Patrol team, K9 unit, Crime Prevention, Public Order Police unit, Detectives and Stock theft unit.
Firearms, drugs and other items were recovered during these operations, as follows:
• 16× firearms,11×motor vehicles, 3990240× counterfeit cigarettes, large quantity of alcohol, 53× dangerous weapons, assorted drugs in the form of dagga, CAT, Crystal Meth. Furthermore, 1942 × fines were issued for the Road Traffic Offenses and 50 × Shebeens closed.
▪During the operation conducted on Monday 10 October 2022 in Jane Furse, police pounced on a cable thief at his shack in Zamani section, following a positive tip-off from members of the community. The 18-year-old suspect was found in possession of 18 rolls of heavy current electrical cables that were stolen from Boysendal mine.
▪Four suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle, illegal explosives and conspiracy to commit unknown offence. The suspects’ vehicle was travelling from Mpumalanga to Polokwane when it was intercepted along the R37 off-ramp just after N1. Police found 04 copper detonators, five cellphones, pepper spray, pocket knife and other items. Police established that the vehicle was reported stolen in Middleburg, Mpumalanga province.
▪A 43-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle near Mokopane Weigh Bridge on Tuesday 11 October 2022.Police circulated the Toyota Fortuner and discovered that it was stolen in Kempton Park, Gauteng.
▪Three suspects aged between 26 and 38 were arrested for possession of illicit cigarettes on Thursday 13 October 2022 on the R55 road in the Mara policing area. The suspects were travelling in a VW Transporter and during the search, police confiscated 20 boxes of Remington gold cigarettes with the estimated street value of R200 000.
▪Three suspects aged between 36 and 41 were arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on Sunday 16 October 2022 in Madiba Park under Seshego policing area. Police stopped a vehicle with three occupants inside and during the search they found one 9mm pistol with ammunition.
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe is impressed with the successes reached during these operations and has urged members to continue closing the net on criminals.
Some of the suspects have already appeared before the respective Magistrate’s Courts.
