Over the weekend Ekurhuleni North Cluster police stations were involved in an operation to enforce the law.
SAPS communications officer Capt Manyadza Ralidzhivha said this was done to ensure the safety of the residents of the cluster remains a top priority.
“Police, together with other law enforcement agencies, have managed to arrest 143 suspects.
“The suspects were arrested for different crimes. Suspects were found on freeways while on foot. Others were arrested for business robbery, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless and negligent driving, dealing in drugs, possession of drugs, selling liquor without a permit, possession of suspected stolen goods, travelling on train without tickets and driving motor vehicles with fraudulent driver’s licences,” Ralidzhivha explained.
He said a 22-year-old man was found by metro police driving a vehicle in the Rabie Ridge policing area.
“He gave the traffic official a licence that looked suspicious.
“The officer verified the licence through eNatis.
“It was found it does not appear on the system and the man is not a licensed driver.”
Ralidzhivha said a 19-year-old man was arrested on February 16 in the early hours of the morning for business robbery.
Ralidzhivha said the owner of the spaza shop which is situated in his yard, was surprised to be awoken by the landlord’s son who allegedly stood in front of him with a knife at about 1am.
“The suspect threatened to stab the spaza shop owner.
“He demanded money. He took all the money that was being kept on the business premises and ran away.
“It was established that he gained entry through the bathroom window,” said Ralidzhivha.
He said another man was arrested for possession of a hijacked motor vehicle in Emmangweni section.
“The SAPS members who were on patrol saw a man busy with something in the car.
“They immediately circulated the vehicle’s details. It was found the vehicle had been hijacked in Welkom and the man was arrested.”
At the corner of Pretoria and R23 roads in Kempton Park, the metro police arrested three men for possession of a suspected stolen canopy.
The suspects alleged that they bought the canopy from somebody in Tembisa.
Ralidzhivha explained that in another case a 28-year-old man was arrested for intimidation and extortion that was committed in August 2017.
“The man and his friend went to a house in Hospital View and called from the gate.
“When the owner came, he identified one of them. They told him that they were sent by somebody to come and kill him.
“One of the men showed him the firearm on his waist.
“He was told that they would come back after a month.
“The victim opened a case with the Tembisa police. The identified man was traced until he was found on Thursday evening.
“All suspects arrested will be charged and will appear before the magistrates’ court around Ekurhuleni North Cluster,” said Ralidzhivha.
