The ongoing festive season operations in Limpopo, that also include the enforcement of the regulations under the Disaster Management Act, continue to tighten the grip against lawlessness as 2 150 suspects aged between 19 and 57 were arrested from Monday, 19 December until 27 December 2020.
The suspects were arrested for various offences that included possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession and dealing in drugs and illicit cigarettes, selling fireworks without permits, murder, attempted murder, robberies, burglaries, assault, perjury, corruption, theft of motor vehicle, Contravention of the Road Traffic Act, sexual offences, stock theft, possession of suspected stolen properties, illegal Immigration Act, arson, drunk and driving and contravention of the Regulations under the Disaster Management Act.
During the operations, 693 fines were issued for liquor related offences that included drinking and drunk in public places. In one of the operations conducted on Saturday, 26 December 2020, members of Limpopo Highway Patrol Team operating in Maake policing area found a group of people gathered at a tavern which was still operating beyond the curfew. Police managed to disperse the crowd and two people aged 28 and 32 were arrested for selling liquor in contravention with the regulations under the Disaster Management Act.
Some of the notable arrests are as follows:
*The arrest this morning of a 34-year-old owner of an illegal liquor outlet at Mokwakwaila where people attacked and damaged a police vehicle in the early hours of Christmas Day when the police were enforcing the law. The suspect will appear in Bolobedu Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 29 December 2020.
*The recovery of several vehicles robbed, stolen and hijacked at separate locations.
*In one of the joint operations conducted in Musina, members recovered a Mercedes Benz that was reported stolen in Sunnyside. The suspected driver was arrested.
*Police in Jane Furse outside Lebowakgomo recovered a grey Hyundai I10 that was found abandoned at Vergelegen. The vehicle was allegedly hijacked in the area earlier this month.
* Police in Westenburg recovered a Toyota Etios that was reported stolen at Wierdabrug in June this year and a VW Polo that was reported stolen in Pretoria West this month. Two suspects were arrested.
*The arrest of two suspects aged 18 and 19 in Mahwelereng for business robbery. Police recovered one firearm and a cash amount of money believed to be stolen during the robbery.
*A 21-year-old suspect was arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at Extension 12, Mokopane. He allegedly threatened his girlfriend with the firearm that he stole from his father. A case of Intimidation was also opened.
*One of the suspects aged 30, was arrested for possession of dagga wrapped in big packages along R579 in the Nebo policing area. The drugs were found hidden inside the suspect’s vehicle and police also confiscated cash amount of money. The other suspect aged 23 was arrested in the same area after he was found selling illicit cigarettes at his spaza shop with the estimated street value of over R4 000.
*In the Capricorn District, the members arrested a 36-year-old suspect at his house in Legae la Batho Extension in the Seshego policing area for possession of dagga with the estimated street value of more than R1 000.
The Police, confiscated 26 firearms, 32 suspected stolen or hijacked motor vehicles, 66 dangerous weapons, liquor, illicit cigarettes, suspected stolen properties including electronic devices, cash amount of money, drugs such as nyaope, kat, crystal meth, crack cocaine and dagga during these operations. Forty seven shebeens were also closed.
The operating components included the following: Public Order Police Unit, Crime Intelligence Unit, Detectives, Limpopo Highway Patrol Team (LHP), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Organised Crime Unit, Stock Theft Unit, Vehicle Crime Investigation (VCIU) Unit and K9 Unit joined by the Provincial and Municipal Traffic Police.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers applauded the members for their continuous dedication in fighting crime, especially the mushrooming of illegal firearms and drugs.
All the arrested suspects will appear before the various magistrate courts soon and police investigations are continuing.
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