Category: General

POLOKWANE – A 51-year-old woman, Grace Magaringe went missing on 14 December 2022 at about 15.00 while visiting her relatives at Ivydale Plot outside Polokwane.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Grace is mentally challenged and originates from Tzaneen policing precinct under Mopani District. She allegedly left her relatives while at home without informing them about her destination and has since disappeared.
A search operation was conducted to locate her at friends and surrounding areas with no success.
Grace was reportedly last seen wearing a black skirt, blue jacket with yellow sandals during her disappearance.
Police request anyone with information that can assist to find the missing woman to contact the Investigating Officer, Warrant Officer Peter Mangakeng on 0827289831 or Crime Stop number 0860010111 or nearest police or MySAPS App.
A search operation for the victim is currently ongoing.

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA – The Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene has commended the operational performance of newly trained Constables, who are deployed in the Nelson Mandela and Sarah Baartman Districts on their first day of work yesterday, 23 December 2022.
On Friday, 23 December 2022, Lieutenant General Mene and her management visited Gqeberha to welcome and address a group of newly trained Constables, who are deployed in the Nelson Mandela and Sarah Baartman Districts respectively. The event was held at Victory Ministries Church in Gelvandale, Gqeberha.
Lt Gen Mene during her address warned officers not to be tempted with bribes and corrupt behaviour and also to stay away from misusing resources such as vehicles. “Please respect and treat our clients with dignity, and always adhere to what you were taught at the academy. Remember, a crime victim does not have an alternative of choosing between several service providers, but the only hope for them is the nearest police station”, added Lt Gen Mene
Immediately, after the formal proceedings, a group of about 323 newly trained Constables with their mentors took part in several operations within the two districts which included mall patrols and roadblock duties. They were displaying their readiness to police the hectic festive season period.
They indeed lived up to this year’s festive season slogan of “More boots on the ground towards enhanced police visibility”. The energetic officers painted the two districts blue. Several motorists were issued with fines ranging from driving motor vehicles without licences to unroadworthy vehicles. A total value of the fines issued on the day was R125 700-00. During the time of their deployments, the two districts were quiet. Similar operations are expected to continue up until the end of the Festive Season.
The day ended with Senior Management joining the newly trained foot soldiers in walking the beat at the shopping malls, and distributing some pamphlets to shoppers.

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

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

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

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