Day: December 23, 2022

NORTHERN CAPE – The Provincial Commissioner for the Northern Cape, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola led the operations on 23 December 2022 at the local malls in Kimberley. Gen Otola said more boots on the ground to enhance police visibility is truly the order of the day with SAPS Provincial Office Personnel, specialized units and surrounding stations in Kimberley formed part of these disruptive actions.
The teams visited malls, shopping centres and hot spot areas in the CBDs all over the province. Safety hint flyers and rejecting stolen goods information was relayed to the community.
The police held road blocks in most entrance and exit roads and random vehicle check points all over the province. More than 600 vehicles were stopped and searched and traffic fines worth more than R60 000-00 were issued during the day.
Police arrested one male with dagga worth about R11000-00 after stopping and searching his bakkie at one of the Roadblocks in Kuruman.
Police followed up on more information emanating during the operations and arrested three males with 12 alleged stolen sheep carcasses, worth about R12000-00 in Britstown.
A 27-year-old suspect was arrested after a high speed chase in Pabalelo, Upington. Police searched the vehicle and confiscated 50 Mandrax and cash from his vehicle. The VW Polo was also confiscated as it was allegedly utilized in the commission of crime.
Police in total arrested 2256 suspects for various crimes all over the Northern Cape since the start of Operation Vala Konke Safer Festive Season on 1 November 2022 to date.
Lt Gen Koliswa Otola reiterated that the six key focus areas for this years’ festive season operations are as follows:
1. Campaign and police actions focusing on prevention of crimes against vulnerable groups and GBVF.
2. Combating aggravated robberies: carjacking, robberies at residential premises and business robberies.
3. Enhancing border security, preventing stolen property from crossing the borders, combating drugs, human trafficking and tracing of wanted suspects
4. Enforcement of legislation in respect of firearms, liquor, second hand goods and Safety of Sports and Recreation events.
5. Enforcement of By-Laws targeting hijacked buildings, unlawful sale and use of firecrackers.
6. Law enforcement to enhance road safety including combating of drunken driving, speeding, un-roadworthy vehicles. A project to specifically focus.on cloned vehicles, cloned license plates and vehicles without number plates will be included as part of the Eyes and Ears(E2) project.
These operations are currently rolled out throughout the province, more boots on ground is gaining much momentum and yielding great results.

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE – Boots on the ground to enhance police visibility is being displayed on the N3 near Van Reenen where police are manning an intensive roadblock stopping and searching motorists and commuters heading to various destinations.
The roadblock started with parade conducted by Free State Thabo Mofutsanayana District DOCC, Lt Col Hugo and Lt Col Khanye from Uthugela District in KwaZulu-Natal. Both provinces brought their officers and officials who ensured that operational duties are jointly conducted. Thus a number of successes are being processed as operation is also joined by the Department of Home Affairs, Immigration officer based in Harrismith. Additional to that is KwaZulu-Natal Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit.

Source: South African Police Service

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Head Office Organised Crime Investigations Unit, has recovered military explosive devices and equipment in Benoni, Gauteng.

SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said Thursday’s haul came after police followed up on information that the explosives were allegedly going to be delivered to illegal miners in Snake Road.

“The team immediately operationalised the information and descended on the scene, where they found a box with seven hand grenades, one CS smoke generator, a military shot exploder, a military tester and eighteen military switches,” she said.

Mathe said members of the Germiston Bomb Disposal Unit were deployed to the scene to recover the explosive devices.

“To ensure the safety and security of the surrounding communities, one of the hand grenades which was found to be unstable was destroyed on the spot (IN SITO) to prevent any injuries and damage to property.

“A multidisciplinary team has been dispatched to monitor the area to effect possible arrests,” she said. “An enquiry has also been registered to determine the origin of the explosive devices and equipment.”

“Anyone with information on this matter is encouraged to call the crime stop hotline number on 0860010111. Callers are reminded that all information will be treated with confidentiality,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

MOKOPANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe and the Management have welcomed more boots on the ground in all five Districts, just in time to deal with criminality during the Christmas and New Year festivities as well as beyond this period.

Limpopo Province is home to many people working in Gauteng and other Provinces and these people will be coming back home to enjoy Christmas and New Year festivities with their families. The Province is also a transit or gateway to the rest of Africa and as such, all our major roads have already started experiencing heavy traffic.

Addressing the new Constables since Tuesday 20 to 22 December 2022 at different venues, the Provincial Commissioner warmly welcomed them as they commence with the new chapter as Police officers and immediately started giving them marching orders for this eminent period.

“As the festive season is already upon us, you must go out there and make a difference, ensuring that all the residents in Limpopo and visitors are and feel safe wherever they are”, said Lieutenant General Hadebe.

Limpopo Province received a total of 849 new Constables as part of Project 10 000. The new members have been deployed in all five Districts of the Province; Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterburg and are expected to add value in our quest to rid this Province of any form of criminality.

There will be heightened visibility on shopping centres, malls, villages and at identified hotspots. The police will also patrol our major roads in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

“We call on all our communities to be responsible when celebrating this period and desist from abusing alcohol. Travellers are urged to plan their trips accordingly and always keep emergency numbers handy.” Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.

Source: South African Police Service

As 2022 draws to a close, President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished South Africans a happy and safe festive season and a prosperous New Year.
In a Season’s greetings message on Friday, President Ramaphosa urged South Africans to look to the next year with hope and determination as they reflect on the challenges and the achievements of the year that has passed.
“Our great country will rise above adversity as it has done so many times in the past. We are a people of optimism. We love our country and wish for its success.
“I wish you and yours a happy and safe festive season and a prosperous New Year,” the President said.
The President said that South Africa is a nation that perseveres and never gives up.
In his latest weekly newsletter last week, the President encouraged South Africans to remain optimistic, even as “we brace against harsh winds”.
“We are a nation that perseveres, and that never gives up. We will overcome our current challenges, as surely as we did the pandemic that threatened to lay waste to our nation.
“Misfortune has tested us over the past year, but these hard times have brought to the fore once more the traits for which we are known as South Africans,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency