Operatives of the recently relaunched Highway Patrol Unit, last Sunday, recovered three unlicensed firearms and a stolen vehicle, 24-hours after a fleet of 55 high performance vehicles were handed to the SAPS in Gauteng by Premier David Makhura on behalf of the provincial government.
Spokesman Captain Mavela Masondo, in a statement said, “The first two suspects, aged 44 and 50, were arrested in Soweto driving in a marked private security company vehicle. “The highway patrol members were driving in Meadowlands, Soweto, when they noticed a white Mazda 323 driving at a high speed. The vehicle was stopped and an on-the-scene investigation established that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Roodepoort.
“Upon searching the occupants, one of them was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. Suspects were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle and possession of unlicensed firearm.”
In another incident, still on Sunday morning, members of the unit deployed on the N3 highway arrested a 37-year-old suspect who had since been linked to murder and attempted murder cases that were committed in Frankfort in the Free State. The suspect was found in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Meanwhile, an off-duty member of the highway patrol unit responded to community reports about gun shots from a local soccer field. The member proceeded to the scene where he found and arrested a 22-year-old suspect who was found in possession of unlicensed ammunition and a firearm that was reported stolen in Brakpan.
Gauteng Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, was quoted to have commended the highway patrol members who wasted no time in effectively utilising the cars handed to them.
“We are looking forward to the positive impact that we envisage these new high performance vehicles will bring in terms of police visibility in known crime hotspots and prevention and combatting of trio crimes, particularly car and truck hijackings,” said the Commissioner.