The South African Police Service in Limpopo collaborated with other stakeholders with common interests in squeezing the space for criminals and stamping the authority of the State in the Province during ‘Operation Kukula’ conducted from 12 June until 18 June 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe led from the front as other law enforcement agencies joined hands with Police when they operated in the hotspot areas during Operation Kukula in Thohoyandou Vhembe District.
Various role players participated including the Department of Traffic, Correctional Services, Department of Health, Department of Home Affairs, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), LEDET, Department of Labour, Community Safety, Community Patrollers, Community Policing Forum, Private Security and Business Forum.
The Operations were conducted through roadblocks, stop and searches, tracing of wanted suspects, patrols at hotspots areas. Compliance inspections at liquor outlets, shebeens, second-hand goods shops and other businesses.
Multiple suspects were arrested for offences ranging from attempted murder, burglaries, malicious damage to property, assaults, contravention of the Immigration Act, robberies, possession of dangerous weapon, possession of unlicensed firearm, ammunition, possession of dagga and possession of counterfeit goods, possession of drugs, dealing in drugs and other crimes.
A total of 70 suspects were traced and arrested during these operations by well skilled Detectives from various stations and units.
The confiscated items during the operation includes; 40 various assorted rounds of ammunition, 627 377 litres of liquor, 383 counterfeit goods, 23 dangerous weapons, 0,162 dagga, 0,001 crystal meth, seven units of nyaope (whoonga), four firearms, 30 tobacco products, eight vehicles, and 23 vessel parts and accessories.
Furthermore, 25, 300 people and 10, 902 vehicles were stopped and searched.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo applauded all the teams operating in the different areas for keeping the citizens of this Province safe and further for apprehending offenders.
This operation is set to continue to hit hard on criminals at all Districts, being Vhembe, Sekhukhune, Mopani, Waterberg and Capricorn.
The arrested suspects have already started to appear at various the Magistrate’s Courts’ in the Province.
