SAPS arrests scores of people in the Ivory Park
"We arrested 1 587 individuals linked to gang activity, including 65 for murder, 87 for attempted murder and 214 for the possession of illegal firearms."
Illegal immigration remains one of the most significant challenges in Gauteng, with ongoing operations helping the police identify and remove illegal immigrants from the area.
These operations have also been instrumental in combating crime by removing criminals, illegal firearms and illicit substances.
Recently, the Gauteng SAPS held another successful operation on Republic Road, Clayville, building on the success of an operation held two months earlier.
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Gauteng SAPS provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni emphasised the importance of these operations in the fight against crime, highlighting the progress made over the past six months.
“Illegal immigration continues to be a major concern in Ivory Park, where crime, particularly car hijacking, remains a significant problem,” he said.
“In September, we reviewed our six-month operational report, and I’m pleased to report that we made substantial progress. ”
“We arrested 1 587 individuals linked to gang activity, including 65 for murder, 87 for attempted murder and 214 for the possession of illegal firearms.
“We’ve also dealt with 1 221 drug-related offences and shut down 10 drug laboratories with the help of the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies.”
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Mthombeni discussed the local schools’ challenges, such as allegations of unsafe food sold in school shops and the SAPS’ ongoing efforts to address this issue.
“We are assessing shops to ensure they sell no harmful foods to children. Additionally, we launched the Adopt-a-Cop programme, which will strengthen our partnership with school management to ensure the safety of students.”
In the past six months, the operation saw 4 796 arrests, with 3 657 of those illegal immigrants.
“We are working hard to address the community’s concerns regarding illegal immigration,” Mthombeni added.
“Gauteng is a high-activity province during the festive season, and we are fully prepared to ensure our roads and communities remain safe from drunk driving and other crimes associated with this time of year.”
The ongoing Operation Shanela is part of broader efforts to support and strengthen the Ivory Park Police Station’s capacity to fight crime.
The roadblock on Republic Road, Clayville, was another milestone in the SAPS’ commitment to keeping Gauteng safe.
