By Augustine Ehikioya
Police officers in Eden Cluster, Western Cape Province, operating under various crime combating operations have arrested 362 suspects at the weekend.
Part of the offences included Contravention of DMA Covid-19 Regulations.
This was contained in a press statement made available to Security Watch Africa and issued by Capt Malcolm Pojie of South African Police Service Office of the Provincial Commissioner, Western Cape.
Pojie said: “Concerted efforts by Police in the Eden Cluster in the Garden Route District to combat and eradicate crime successfully through the strategic deployment of integrated forces ensured that 362 suspects were arrested between Friday, 03 and Sunday morning, 05 September, 2021 at 06:00.
“Of these, two hundred and sixty eight (268) were arrested for reported crime committed during the mentioned period”.
The statement said the arrests represented various criminal offences, ranging from petty to Contravention of DMA Covid-19 Regulations and other serious crime since the start of the weekend.
Pojie went on “This weekend’s operations included high visibility patrols in crime stricken areas, roadblocks, stop and search operations with a special focus on drug and liquor outlets, illegal firearms, the tracing of wanted suspects and confiscation of dangerous weapons”.
The statement said “Most of the arrested suspects will make their court appearance in the local magistrates’ court once charged, whilst others were released on a warning to appear in court at a later stage or pay an admission of guild fine for DMA transgressions”.
Pojie also disclosed that “On Saturday, 04 September 2021, members attached to the George Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) acted on information received about a stolen Toyota bakkie that might be en-route to George. The bakkie was stolen in Ladysmith earlier in the day. They operationalized the information and whilst patrolling in Knysna Road, George, saw a suspicious man, hiking towards Knysna.
“They stopped and interrogated the suspect who was found to fit the description of the one who allegedly stole the bakkie. Upon further investigation the suspect took the members to the George CBD where he pointed out the location of parked bakkie.
“Subsequently he was arrested and the bakkie was handed in as evidence. The 39-year-old suspect from Hoekwil near George will be transferred to Ladysmith SAPS holding cells to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrates’ court on a charge of Theft of motor vehicle later this week”.
Also Friday evening, Pojie said, “members assisted by the George and Provincial Traffic Departments were executing stop and search operations in and around George when they pulled over various motorists and with random searches confiscated a moderate amount of Tik with the arrest of a 42-year-old man, dagga with the arrests of two men aged 41 and 34 and Khat with two middle aged men arrested.
“These suspects are scheduled to make their first court appearance in the George Magistrates’ court once being charged with Dealing and Possession of Drugs”.
According to the statement, Western Cape Provincial Management commended the members for their “vigilance in bringing these perpetrators to book. Combined efforts with the Traffic Departments contributed to a safer weekend in the various policing precincts in the Garden Route”.