Police out in full force as festive season approaches

Similar roadblocks will be held as the festive season draws closer.

November 25, 2020

Brakpan Herald 2 minutes read

Under the command of Brakpan SAPS station commander Brig Fredl Jonck (left), the roadblock was manned by officers from various police stations within the Ekurhuleni District cluster, EMPD, Gauteng Traffic Police and a host of other law enforcers.

Traffic trickled to a snail’s pace as queues of motorists made their way through a colossal police roadblock held along Heidelberg Road (R23), near Tsakani, on Friday.

The roadblock, which saw the launch of Ekurhuleni District SAPS festive season safety operations, covered a long stretch of road on both sides of the dual carriageway, leaving little room for transgressors to escape.

Police were on the lookout for stolen goods, firearms and drugs.

Traffic was diverted to one lane and portable speed bumps quickly put a stop to any motorists tempted to speed through.

The roadblock even garnered the attention of high-ranking police officials who stopped by to witness the operation in action, including Gauteng acting provincial commissioner Maj-Gen Patricia Rampota, deputy provincial commissioner for policing Maj-Gen Tommy Mthombeni, Ekurhuleni district commissioner Maj-Gen Vincent Leshabane and Maj-Gen Girly Mbhele, deputy provincial commissioner management advisory services.

Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko was also in attendance.

Read: Oversight committee members welcomed by EMPD

The roadblock, under the command of Brakpan Police Station commander Brig Fredl Jonck, started at 6am and was manned by Brakpan SAPS and others within the Ekurhuleni District policing cluster.

Other law enforcers involved included Gauteng Traffic Police, EMPD, EMPD K9 Unit, SAPS Dog Unit, Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, SAPS and EMPD Social Crime Prevention Units, SAPS Mounted Unit and Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit.

Members from the Public Order Policing Unit and representatives from Tracker were also present.

Speaking to the Herald, Jonck commented that the R23 has been plagued by blue-light hijackers and police were hoping the roadblock would also help generate new leads regarding these crimes.

According to Capt Pearl van Staad, spokesperson for the Brakpan SAPS, the roadblock saw the search of 569 people and 632 vehicles.
Five illegal immigrants were arrested and one person was nabbed for possession of a dangerous weapon.

Police dog Xapapa was on hand at the roadblock on Friday to sniff out narcotics. Sgt Vilosen Govender and Const Marline Niemand are from the SAPS Ekurhuleni K9 Unit in Benoni.

Eighty-eight traffic fines valued at R36 168 were issued and at least two vehicles were impounded.

One impounded bakkie spotted by the Herald on the back of an EMPD flatbed truck was dangerously overloaded with what looked to be half of a car and other scrap items.

According to an officer on the scene, the overloaded bakkie was also found to be unroadworthy, had an expired licence disc and no VIN.
Similar roadblocks will be held as the festive season draws closer and Jonck thanked everyone present for their teamwork and effort.