WESTERN CAPE – Operations by the Western Cape police to ensure a safe and secure Festive Season for the inhabitants of this province are making headway as criminals are being disarmed by the numbers.
This is exactly what the Anti-Gang Unit displayed when they arrested two suspects aged 30 and 36 on Friday evening. During an intelligence driven operation the members reacted on a complaint of a hijacked vehicle and caught the suspects with an unlicensed Mauser rifle and ammunition in Raats Drive Table View when their vehicle was stopped and searched.
The suspects are scheduled to make their court appearance in Cape Town Magistrates court on Monday for the possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
In an unrelated matter members of the Provincial Extortion Task Team arrested a 40-year-old male for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Main Road Mfuleni last night at about 21:30. The members received information about a firearm and searched the premises and confiscated a.38 special revolver with an ammunition.
Once charged the suspect will make a court appearance in Blue Downs Magistrates court to face the charges against him.
With eight days into the New Year, Western Cape police through targeted operations have confiscated a total of 33 firearms, 578 rounds of ammunition and arrested 39 suspects. The confiscated firearms comprised unlicensed and prohibited firearms, homemade firearms and an assault rifle.
Operations are not limited to a specific area and are conducted throughout the province.
Interventions in the West Coast resulted in the arrest of a suspect in Langebaan who was caught in possession of three revolvers and ammunition. In the Southern Cape two suspects were arrested with a 7.65 and 9mm pistols during operations. In the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East a 30-year-old suspect was arrested with a 9mm pistol. These are just some of the highlights of our endeavours for the week.
As Safer Festive Season operations are scheduled to be concluded later in the month, Western Cape police undertake to intensify their policing activities in an effort to rid the province of illegal firearms that contribute to serious violent crimes that affect certain areas.
Meanwhile tracing operations by Western Cape police detectives led to the arrest of 414 suspects on charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, assault to cause grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, domestic violence and possession of drugs and firearms.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, lauded the members for their vigilance in pursuing the suspects and the ultimate confiscation of firearms. Lt Gen Patekile said: “This endeavour is part of our integrated approach when we embark on various Safer Festive Season operations.
Source: South African Police Service