ICYMI: Law enforcement at work in Diepsloot
DIEPSLOOT – SAPS and JMPD officials were on site early on Thursday morning searching road users during their weekly operation in order to weed out crime.
Members of the police and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department conducted a massive roadblock in the Diepsloot area as part of operation O Kae Molao in the early morning of 10 September.
The provincial crime combating campaign started in 2019 and takes place weekly around the province. Many vehicles were stopped along each side of the road to check drivers’ licences, the validity of licence disks, number plates, and general condition of cars and trucks passing by.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela was present at the roadblock, assisting other police officials and reported back on some findings during the morning.
He said it was decided to have the roadblock in Diepsloot as it is ‘one of the biggest contributors of crime in Gauteng, especially violent crimes’. “We started yesterday [9 September] whereby detectives went out to look for wanted suspects. We are happy to tell the residents of Gauteng that 1 050 of those suspects have been arrested by these detectives,” he said.
Throughout the morning, officers found of a hijacked car, a driver with counterfeit number plates, a van possibly transporting drugs and a taxi driver with an incorrect licence disk.
Faith Mazibuko, MEC for Community Safety, was also present and assisted with searches of the drivers. She said that the roadblock was to help educate others in general road safety. She added that there have been a few vehicles that have been found to not be roadworthy.
“As part of checking and analysing statistics in Gauteng. We realised that there is a lot of hijackings of cars along this Lanseria road, with people going or coming to the airport. This is because people are not completely vigilant,” she said.
She said that should law enforcement continue to do their work in the area, she is certain that ‘communities that live in the area will also feel safe, and recognise that they are part and parcel of Gauteng’. “As we continue policing Gauteng, they are included in the plans,” she concluded.
Roadblocks are set to take place once a week in various areas.
