Putting Children First

Leading the National Campaign on Child Protection is the Station Commander of the Chatsworth Police Station Brigadier Ruth De Villiers together with her two foot soldiers Captain Hope and Sergeant Faith. “Ubuntu nguni bantu, umntu ngumntu ngabantu, humanity to others, I am because we are.” Unquote, Brigadier Ruth De Villiers echoed these sentiments as she welcomed learners from a local school to the station on Sunday, 29 May 2022.

Rays of light and smiley faces shone from the learners as they gazed upon superheroes Captain Hope and Sergeant Faith. Brigadier De Villiers together with her team started a campaign at the station called “We Serve, We Protect, We Honour”. The angels in blue are thankful for the grace upon their lives that they made personal pledges, joining their hearts with the Station Commander, committing to pledging schools shoes to disadvantaged children from our community. Thus far, the initiative has gained momentum with the team making personal pledges of one hundred and twenty pairs of shoes.

The Champions of Hope took it a step further by personalising the shoeboxes with insignia of the South African Police Service. May the learners “Dream, Believe and Achieve” all that their young hearts may desire. As they put on their Bata Toughee shoes, may they take steps of boldness knowing that the police are their protectors? Knowing that should they become victims of crime, that the police stations are lighthouses for them to find their way. The police have made it possible to walk into their destiny.

Captain Pillay, Communications Officer at the station addressed the learners of the important role that police officers play in their lives. In keeping with the theme of Child Protection Week, “Putting Children First”, police reached out through this campaign to restore hope and faith to these budding learners. Through visual aids, police cautioned children on taking sweets from strangers, which could affect their wellbeing and safety. An inactive session with the future leaders in society as police held a session engaging with them on stranger danger, which may result in kidnapping and child trafficking.

Every learner received a pair of shoes that will enable him or her to attend school daily. The Paper Bag Campaign afforded personnel to assist with stationery, police lunch boxes, hand sanitisers, toys, juices and sweet treats for the children. The children were given educational pamphlets on the rights of children which also had important numbers should they be in need of any assistance. May we continue to be an extension of Gods hand and heart to those who are in need? It is a possible mandate for member of the South African Police Service to commit to this end.

The Station Commander Brigadier Ruth De Villiers shared joy with her team as we displayed humanitarian acts of love to children unknown to us. We remain Mothers to a nation where special moments of love will remain embedded in the hearts of these young children as well as ours. This message of goodwill displayed through police personnel tells the world that miracles do happen.

Source: South African Police Service

More than 550 wanted suspects arrested during Operation O Kae Molao

PARKTOWN – The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela was joined by the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Ms Faith Mazibuko as he led yet another Operation O Kae Molao which resulted in the arrest of more than 550 suspects who have been on the run after committing serious and violent crimes that include murder, armed robbery, rape, fraud, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, housebreaking and theft. These suspects were arrested during the first phase of the operation, where the detectives were tracing wanted suspects.

The second phase of Operation O Kae Molao is where integrated law enforcement agencies conducted a roadblock to ensure that there were no illegal goods and substances transported by the road users and to search for stolen and hijacked vehicles. During the roadblock in Protea, Soweto, 12 people were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, three cars that were suspected to be stolen/hijacked/used in the commission of crime were seized and 18 undocumented foreign nationals were taken in to be processed by officials from the Department of Home Affairs. More than 270 other people were arrested for various crimes in Johannesburg District over the weekend.

Meanwhile, other districts also conducted weekend operations that resulted in the arrest of 490 people in Tshwane District, 426 in Ekurhuleni District, 168 in West Rand District and 87 in Sedibeng District.

Arrested suspects will appear at different Magistrates’ Court in due course.

Source: South African Police Service

Hawks officers and a traditional healer to appear in court

PRETORIA – The Hawks’ National Head, Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya expressed his disenchantment on the alleged involvement of officers from the Directorate in criminal activities.

Two National Headquarters Hawks officers, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Captain working at Supply Chain Management are in police custody after they were arrested on 27 May 2022 by the Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crimes and Tactical Operations Management Section.

Information about a Lieutenant Colonel who intended to supply SAPS ammunition to a traditional healer was received, which culminated to a sting operation being conducted. The female traditional healer (43) was subsequently arrested at her place of residence in Soshanguve on 27 May 2022 after an exchange was made. She was charged with illegal possession of ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property following the seizure of other items suspected to belong to the state.

Further investigation led to the arrest of a female Lieutenant Colonel who was charged with theft and dealing in ammunition whilst the female Captain was arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice after it was discovered that she tried to conceal evidence in this matter.

The traditional healer will appear in the Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court whilst the two members will appear in the Pretoria Central Magistrate` Court on Monday, 30 May 2022.

“We expect all our members to be beyond reproach and will ensure that the alleged culprits face the full might of the law. We shall continue to act without fear or favour regardless of the status of those who transgress the law,” said Lieutenant General Lebeya.

Source: South African Police Service

Three stolen vehicles recovered, four suspects to appear in court

DURBAN: Police officers from the Provincial Trio and Vehicle Task Team received information of about a vehicle that was wanted for theft in Pietermaritzburg. It was reported that the vehicle entered the Newlands area.

Police and security officials immediately responded to the scene and the vehicle was spotted travelling on Cornfield Road in Newlands area. The vehicle was then intercepted and three males were found inside the vehicle and they were placed under arrest. It was established that the vehicle was stolen in Pietermaritzburg area. The suspects aged 32 and 39 will appear before the Durban Magistrates’ Court on charges of possession of stolen property.

While the same team was still in the area, they spotted a vehicle that was travelling at a high speed. The said vehicle was chased and intercepted. Upon searching the suspect, he was found in possession of a pistol with rounds of ammunition. The investigation revealed that the firearm was stolen in Hammarsdale during July 2021. The suspect aged 22 will appear in court tomorrow.

Two other vehicles were found abandoned in KwaDabeka and Cato Manor. One of the vehicle was hijacked at Ndunduma area in Clermont while the other was hijacked in Springfield Park. Police are still searching for the suspects.

Source: South African Police Service

Couple arrested for dealing in drugs

MELODING – The Provincial Organized Crime together with Illicit Mining Knock Out Team received information about suspects dealing in drugs at a house in Stiltepark Meloding, Virginia.

On the 27 May 2022 at about 17:30 the house was identified and searched. Drugs and cash amounting to R3870.00 were found on the premises.

A male aged 59 and a female aged 50 were arrested for dealing in drugs.

The two suspects will appear on 30 May 2022 in the Virginia Magistrate Court.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane praised the joint team work for their swift reaction in arresting the couple and confiscating the drugs.

Source: South African Police Service

Two SAPS members to face disciplinary action

ZWELITSHA – Two SAPS members are to face disciplinary action after they were arrested on Thursday the 26 May 2022 on R58 road between Aliwal North and Lady Grey for drunkenness at approximately 20km from Lady grey.

The arrests followed after the members were reportedly involved in drunken driving which is presumed to have caused an accident at a stop and go. It is alleged that the officers failed to stop and as a result, they almost run over two female personnel working at the road construction works in that area.

On arrival at the scene, police immediately arrested one Constable aged 31 for Reckless and Negligent driving with a state vehicle and both of them including the Warrant Officer aged 56 for being under the influence of liquor whilst on duty. The officers are stationed at Maletswai Police Station.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene wishes to thank the members of the public for their courage to report the unprofessional conduct of the SAPS members. “The conduct of these members goes against the spirit and letter of the SAPS Code of Conduct and is furthermore injurious to the image of the SAPS. Therefore, it cannot be forgiven. “The members concerned must deal with the consequences of their actions” said Lieutenant General Mene.

Source: South African Police Service