EC police clamp down on crime
MORE than 600 people were arrested in the space of seven days by Eastern Cape police for various crimes, including murder, robberies and assault.
Provincial police spokesman captain Khaya Tonjeni said 152 were arrested after swift police action.
Tonjeni said 70 people were reported and arrested for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 19 for murder, 21 for various forms of robbery and other serious crimes.
Tonjeni said 143 dangerous weapons, including knives, pangas and 15 firearms were recovered.
During an operation, the Mthatha police arrested eight suspects aged between 25 and 56 years for being in possession of three unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“These suspects were arrested in a joint followup on information on a planned robbery that was going to take place at Cofimvaba.
“The arrests were executed by Queenstown K9 and Flying Squad, Mthatha K9 and Flying Squad, Cofimvaba and Ngcobo CIG at Ngcengane locality in Mthatha on R61,” Tonjeni said.
About 1 400 litres of umtshovalale [illegally brewed alcoholic concoctions] were confiscated and destroyed by the Cradock police over the weekend.
This is after the police held an operation on clamping down on illegal brews.
“These actions are used as a method to address contact-related crimes as well as social crimes.
“During the operation, members visited a number of illegal liquor outlets, destroyed over 1 400 litres of concoction and confiscated the containers.”
Tonjeni said in Uitenhage traffic fines valued at R3 000 were issued on the R75 road during a roadblock by SAPS and traffic officials from the Uitenhage cluster.
“A total of 147 vehicles and 58 persons were searched. One trailer was confiscated and traffic fines valued at R3 000 were issued.”
Two people were arrested by the Elliot K9 and Barkly East police for possession of suspected stolen property worth R30 000.
Tonjeni said the arrest followed a tip-off from the public of a housebreaking. All stolen property was recovered, he said.
Eastern Cape police said some of the weapons recovered during the blitz were lost by rightful owners due to carelessness.
Eastern Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga commended members for the recovery of illegal weapons.
“All firearm owners should be responsible and adhere to the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No 60 of 2000) at all times, as some of the weapons were lost through negligence while others were taken from their rightful owners through theft and violent means.
“These illegal firearms and dangerous weapons are used in the commission of crime especially robbery, murder and hijacking – their elimination from society is one step closer to ensuring the safety of the public.” — malibongwed@dispatch.