Gauteng police maintain order

500 suspects bust for various crimes

As the police’s festive season safety operations draw to a close, the law enforcement agents in Gauteng at the weekend nabbed almost 500 suspects for various crimes.

This was said by police captain Kay Makhubele yesterday.

“… 484 suspects were arrested in Gauteng for offences ranging from armed robbery, attempted murder, possession of drugs, assault, drunk and driving to business robbery and possession of hijacked vehicle,” Makhubele said.

“About 44 suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni North for crimes including rape, house breaking, possession of suspected stolen and hijacked vehicles, possession of dagga, driving under the influence of alcohol and assault.”

He said the police in Sedibeng on Saturday arrested a murder suspect in Evaton and recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the commission of crime.

“This arrest was just one of many intelligence-driven operations by the SAPS, complemented by intensified roadblocks as majority travellers head back from holiday, stopand-search operations, raiding of illegal liquor outlets, tracking of wanted suspects, as well as heightened police visibility at hotspots,” Makhubele said.

He added that 97 suspects were nabbed by the police in Ekurhuleni Central for business robbery, house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, house breaking and driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Police from West Rand conducted operations that yielded in the arrests of 114 suspects for assault, business robbery, house breaking, driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of stolen motor vehicles, among other crimes.

“Johannesburg West police conducted joint operations with the community and other law enforcement agencies which led to the arrests of 66 suspects for crimes such as possession of illegal substances, rape, assault, shoplifting, housebreaking,” he said.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in court soon.