A total of 847 suspects were, over the Human Rights Day long weekend, rounded up by the Police in various high density operations conducted across all five districts in Gauteng.
Among those arrested were three suspects sought in connection with three murders that occurred in Phumusiwe Informal Settlement.
According to Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, the three alleged murderers were arrested in Hospital View, Tembisa after Police operationalised a tip-off, and were found in possession of three firearms, two of which were unlicensed.
In a separate incident in Tshwane, crime intelligence followed information of an alleged habitual robber and upon arrival at the given address, Police found the suspect in possession of drugs including dagga, and an unlicensed firearm.
Mawela said the suspects will be profiled to check if he could be linked to other crimes.
“ A further six suspects were arrested on Saturday evening near Zandspruit Informal Settlement after members from Roodeplaat K9 unit stopped a Hyundai H100 panel van and after searching the vehicle, found and arrested six occupants.
“ The driver and one passenger allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and ran. Three unlicensed firearms and suspected stolen property were seized while the vehicle was impounded for further investigation.
“ Furthermore, a father and daughter were arrested in De Deur. The father who was driving a Mazda was found in possession of illicit cigarettes and the daughter came to the Police station and allegedly tried to bribe the Police, ” he said.
In operations in Dobsonville, Soweto, that were led by Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela and the Johannesburg District Commissioner, Major General Max Masha, Police arrested 29 drunk and driving suspects at a road block, impounded a suspected stolen vehicle, while detectives arrested over 140 suspects wanted for various serious and violent crimes.
“ In West Rand, over 190 suspects were arrested during the operation in Fochville, among the arrested suspects, 12 were arrested for drunk and driving while a number of illegal liquor outlets were closed and liquor confiscated.
During the early hours of Saturday another team pounced on a workshop in Johannesburg CBD where counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R4.2 million were seized and suspects arrested.
“ Over 380 suspects were nabbed in the Tshwane and Ekurhuleni Districts by integrated law enforcement agencies for various offences that include driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“ Seven firearms were recovered during the operations and these will be subjected to ballistic testing to establish possible linkage to other crimes. The arrested suspects are expected to appear before the respective courts across Gauteng Province in due course, ” the Police boss said.