As Operation Lockdown enters its seventh week, a total of 468 arrests were affected from a variety of operation executed from Thursday, 29 August until Monday, 2 September 2019. Of the figure, 231 were wanted suspects apprehended during tracing operations conducted by detectives with the support of visible policing members.
Forces attached to Operation Lockdown embarked on raids, foot patrols, chopper drops, vehicle checkpoints and roadblocks in an effort to create safety among the identified communities. The forces include SANDF members, Traffic officials, Metro Police, Law Enforcement and various units from the SAPS.
With one chopper drop in Valhalla Park, Bishop Lavis members were dropped in an area and immediately saw suspects running. The suspects were pursued and arrested for dealing in drugs. A total of 1406 Mandrax tablets were confiscated.
Other seizures/confiscations included the following:
Alcohol – 2000 litres, Firearms – 13, Rounds of Ammunition – 120, Knives – 32, Tik (crystal meth) – 278g and Dagga – 318g
Meanwhile, major roadblocks were conducted on Baden Powell Road, N2 weighbridge as well as Jakes Gerwel Drive. Traffic fines to the value of R210 000-00 were issued, while four people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Operation Lockdown was initiated in July 2019 as a response to the plea for intervention from communities about serious and violent crimes plaguing the Cape Flats and other townships in the Cape Town metropole.
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