SAPS have through their high density operations arrested 13 949 suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, assault GBH (grievous bodily harm), drug dealing and more.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said through detectives and crime intelligence tracing operations, roadblocks as well as stop and searches ‒ police have taken a bold and decisive approach in protecting the communities that they serve.
All operations are led by the provincial commissioner of each province.
Just last week alone, 4 233 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies were arrested
A total of 117 suspects were arrested for murder.
About 118 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, a total of 280 suspects were arrested for rape, 116 of them were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal.
While 160 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, assault GBH continues to register a large number of arrests with 1463 suspects arrested. A total of 442 suspects were arrested for the illegal dealing in liquor, 127 arrests were made in Mpumalanga while 88 were made in Free State and 86 in KZN.
About 145 drug dealers were arrested during this period. While 373 suspects were arrested for drunk and driving, of those, 71 were arrested in Western Cape. A total of 585 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, and 131 of these arrests were made in KZN.
There were 22 car hijackers arrested, nine of them were arrested in Gauteng. A total of 82 Illegal miners were arrested, 52 of them were arrested in the Free State.
When it comes to under recoveries and confiscations, police registered successes including 164 firearms were confiscated during operations, 41 handguns were confiscated during police operations in KZN.
A total of 2 689 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated. About 52 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this weeks operations.
Police said a highlight of major takedowns includes four extortionists who were fatally wounded during a confrontation with police in Milnerton, Western Cape. Four others are under police guard in hospital. Five firearms were seized at the scene.
Mathe said Gauteng police arrested a suspect after the discovery of a cloned police vehicle believed to have been used in a spate of truck hijackings and courier vehicle robberies in the province.
She said more than 100 undocumented national were arrested when KZN police conducted a raid in the Durban CBD. 100 rounds of ammunition and R 4.1 million in US dollars (counterfeit money) was seized.
”Police will continue with their operations in stamping the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all people living in South Africa,” Mathe said.
Meanwhile, a total of 86 motorists were arrested by JMPD officers for drunk driving from August 26 to September 1.
The Star