SAPS operations: 42 Firearms recovered, 1 746 suspects arrested, NW

South African Police Service

SAPS operations: 42 Firearms recovered, 1 746 suspects arrested, NW
SAPS operations: 42 Firearms recovered, 1 746 suspects arrested, NW

Stabilisation operations that commenced in October 2018 at five policing clusters in the province, led to seizure of 42 firearms and apprehension of 1 746 suspects for various offences.

The firearms were seized from suspects during various operations that were conducted to bring down the levels crime. It was during the operations that suspects were arrested for offences such as murder, assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) rape, illegal possession of firearm, possession of suspects stolen goods, drunken driving, and many others including liquor and traffic related offences.

Of the 1 746 suspects, 469 were arrested in Klerksdorp Cluster, 359 in Rustenburg, 381 in Mafikeng, 496 in Brits and 41 in Pudimoe and Pudimoe .

The police have also seized the following goods during the operations:

Gold bearing material worth R4 million, 659 assortment of ammunition and 24 vehicles.

The operations also led to confiscation of copper cables, televisions, cell phones, laptops, explosives, gas bottles, dangerous weapons such as such knives and pangas as well as various drugs.

In one of the operations in October 2018 at Khuma Township in the Klerksdorp Cluster, the police seized 2 140 kilograms of suspected stolen copper cables and apprehended five suspects after conducting a search at one of the dwellings.

It was during the same operation that the police also confiscated three firearms; two shotguns and a revolver. It was established that one of the shotguns was stolen during burglary in Wilkoppies, Klerksdorp between 12 and 15 October 2018. Further investigation revealed that the second shotgun was robbed during a house robbery committed in Flamwood, Klerksdorp in the early hours of the morning on Monday, 15 October 2018.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the police and other role players for their concerted effort that resulted in the arrest of the suspects as well as confiscation illegal firearms and other goods. She said that although multi-disciplinary operations continue in the province to stabilise crime and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book, it is vital that members of the community work together with the police through structures such as Community Police Forum (CPF) on a journey to a safer South Africa.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service