Cape Town - A welcoming ceremony was held for over 900 newly-appointed constables in the Western Cape, just in time for the busy festive season.

Present for the ceremony was provincial commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, on Tuesday, at 35 Squadron, Erica Drive, Belhar.

Of the 2 700 recruits nationally, the Western Cape has received 940.

Some of the constables will be deployed at hotspot police stations, as well as areas where large numbers of people gather such as shopping centres, beaches, or at public transport hubs.

Following the proceedings, Patekile joined several SAPS members in destroying confiscated liquor held at its Provincial Firearms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control, located at the premises.

Patekile said visible policing between April and September saw 1 800 firearms confiscated during operations, stop-and-search, and raids; and an assortment of 85 485 rounds of ammunition were seized.

“As we today destroy 20 000 litres of liquor, it is worth noting that in the period from April-November, 2024, a total of 158 518 litres were confiscated by the Western Cape SAPS officials… Liquor continues to be a generator of crime, especially in our GBV cases…,” Patekile said.

The process for destroying involves emptying the liquor into a 1 000 litres plastic flow bins.

Cape SAPS management, destroy 20 000 litres of confiscated liquor in the midst of a busy festive season. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers

Cape SAPS management, destroy 20 000 litres of confiscated liquor in the midst of a busy festive season. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers

Cape SAPS management, destroy 20 000 litres of confiscated liquor in the midst of a busy festive season. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers

Cape SAPS management, destroy 20 000 litres of confiscated liquor in the midst of a busy festive season. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers

Cape SAPS management, destroy 20 000 litres of confiscated liquor in the midst of a busy festive season. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers

A contracted service provider is then tasked with emptying the flow bins with a suction truck and disposing the contents at an accredited waste disposal sit.

The disposal takes place in the presence of SAPS members.

He added that 10 000 litres of liquor are destroyed every month.

On Tuesday, 20 000 litres of confiscated liquor was destroyed.

In terms of licensed premises, there were 9 081 and 1 985 identified unlicensed premises in the Western Cape.

shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za

Cape Argus