The City’s Traffic Service, Metro Police and law enforcement officers arrested 207 suspects and issued 74,662 fines during weekly enforcement operations. Metro Police officers arrested a suspect in Mitchells Plain for the illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine with 16 live rounds. Another suspect was arrested in Hanover Park for possession of live ammunition. The Public Emergency Communication Centre dealt with 1,557 emergency calls over the weekend.
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On Saturday evening, officers from the Metro Police Tactical Response Unit (TRU) arrested three suspects for the illegal possession of drugs in Jubilee Street, Mitchells Plain.
Officers on crime prevention patrols witnessed an exchange between two suspects that seemed to be illegal.
When the officers approached them, one of the suspects ran into a nearby premises. Officers followed the suspect and found two more male suspects with a plastic bag containing drugs. A search of the premises led to mandrax tablets in a laundry basket. The suspects confirmed that all the drugs belonged to them.
The officers confiscated 75 tik bankies, 40 grams of tik, 20 half mandrax tablets, 10 mandrax tablets and cash to the value of R2 290,00.
The three suspects aged 34, 35 and 54 were arrested and detained at Mitchells Plain South African Police Service (SAPS).
On Friday, Metro Police officers arrested a suspect for the illegal possession of a firearm in Lentegeur. During the patrol, a suspicious male started running when he saw a marked Metro Police vehicle. Officers pursued and apprehended the suspect. The 21-year-old was searched and a CZ 9mm pistol fully loaded with 16 9mm live rounds of ammunition was found on his person. He was arrested and detained at Lentegeur SAPS.
On the same day, officers from the Tactical Response Unit (TRU) followed up on information received regarding firearms and ammunition in Hanover Park. Upon their arrival, officers informed the owner and permission to search was granted. Officers recovered twenty five 7.65mm rounds of ammunition hidden in an electricity box in the kitchen. The male suspect, aged 22, admitted that it belonged to him. He was arrested for the unlawful possession of ammunition and detained at Philippi SAPS.
Meanwhile, Cape Town traffic officers issued 64,943 fines and arrested 50 suspects, of which 31 were for driving under the influence of alcohol and 14 for reckless and negligent driving. Officers also executed 1,417 warrants of arrest and impounded 167 public transport vehicles.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) also had their hands full, receiving 1,557 calls over the past weekend. Of these, 633 were calls for medical assistance. The centre also dealt with 78 incidents of assault, 44 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents and 24 cases of domestic violence.
During the past week, the City’s Law Enforcement Department officers conducted 442 operations, which led to 198 arrests, 165 of which were made by officers attached to the Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP).
“I am very happy to see the downturn in interpersonal violence, domestic violence cases and motor vehicle accidents recorded by our Public Emergency Communication Centre,” said Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith. “We’ve also seen a slight downturn in the number of arrests, most likely as a result of officers having to manage other demands related to load-shedding.”
“However, there’ve also been some very good successes, which is a combination of visible policing and tips from the public.”
“Our officers continue to do very good work under trying circumstances, and we thank them as well as those members of the public who are contributing to the fight against crime.”
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