SAPS operation leads to 268 arrests across Germiston and Reiger Park
Acting Ekurhuleni District Commissioner Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo led Operation Shanela 2 in Germiston yielding 268 arrests.
A total of 268 suspects were arrested during the SAPS Ekurhuleni district’s weekday Operation Shanela 2, conducted in Germiston and Reiger Park on August 13.
The multidisciplinary operation was led from the front by Ekurhuleni District acting commissioner Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo at the M2 Road, with the support of brigadiers Ntombizini Thethe, Albertina Vesi, Nohlanhla Shezi, Raymond Buthelezi and Johanna Ngoma, as well as other senior officers.
The operation brought together several law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, including the EMPD, Gauteng Traffic Police, CPF, Greater Germiston Taxi Association, the Office of the MEC, Department of Health, Department of Home Affairs, Community in Blue and private security companies.
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The operation focused on crime hotspots in the two policing precincts, with officers conducting vehicle checkpoints, saturation patrols, searches for stolen property, compliance inspections and roadworthiness checks.
The operation also aimed to identify stolen and hijacked vehicles while increasing police visibility in areas identified as crime hotspots.
During the operation, 44 suspected undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and handed over to the Department of Home Affairs for verification and further processing.
Two illegal shebeens were also closed, with liquor confiscated and booked into the SAPS 13 store.
Additional arrests were made for offences including possession and dealing in drugs and dagga, possession of illicit cigarettes, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and the employment of undocumented persons.
A J534 notice was issued to a second-hand goods dealer who was found to be operating in contravention of applicable compliance requirements.
Ngcobo said saturation patrols and vehicle checkpoints resulted in 1 109 people being searched, while 401 vehicles were searched and inspected. Police also checked 53 vehicles to establish whether they had been reported stolen or hijacked, while 10 minibuses were impounded for contraventions of the National Road Traffic Act.
“The operation was supported by pre-operation tracing operations conducted by Ekurhuleni District Detectives. From the previous day into the early hours of Thursday morning, detectives arrested approximately 174 wanted suspects for various offences, including murder, assault GBH, common assault, house robbery, theft and other outstanding criminal offences,” said Ngcobo.
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“Crime Intelligence members also conducted tracing operations, resulting in the arrest of two suspects for dealing in drugs, three suspects for the unlawful possession of replica firearms and two suspects for possession of drugs.
“While the operation focused heavily on law enforcement, SAPS members also carried out social crime prevention activities in partnership with various stakeholders. A crime awareness campaign was held at Golden Walk Mall, while a school talk at Goedehoop Secondary School addressed issues including gangsterism, bullying and behavioural challenges.
“Crime prevention activities were also conducted at Leeuport Primary School, while Dinwiddie Secondary School was subjected to a school search,” said Ngcobo.
Ngcobo commended the SAPS members, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders who participated in the operation.
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Ngcobo said the commitment and dedication demonstrated by the members was important in combating crime and contributing towards the safety and security of residents across Ekurhuleni.
“The Operation Shanela 2 forms part of the SAPS’s continued high-density policing and intelligence-led operations aimed at increasing police visibility, disrupting criminal activities and taking decisive action against criminality across the Ekurhuleni District,” said Ngcobo.
