A total of 184 suspects were arrested and many fines issued when police on the West Rand painted Krugersdorp and its surrounding areas blue when they combined their operations Basadi and Okae Molao last week.
According to Sergeant Audrey Sefara, spokesperson for the West Rand District Police and the Westonaria Police, the operation consisted of law-enforcement agencies from the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, the Gauteng and Mogale City Traffic Police, and members of the Departments of Community Safety and of Home Affairs.
The aim was to concentrate mainly on crime-infested areas through roadblocks, stops-and-searches, compliance inspections, rural safety, liquor outlets and shops, as well as compliance with the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 regulations. The focus was on hijackings, business and house robberies, burglaries, motor vehicles theft, rape and gender-based violence.
“Those arrested were linked to a variety of crimes, ranging from attempted murder, dagga cultivation and being in possession of manufactured dagga products, assault related to domestic violence, drunken driving, fraud, pointing of a firearm, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of unlicensed firearm, rape, sexual assault, theft, assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm, armed robbery, undocumented persons, illegal possession of live ammunition, and contravening Disaster Management Act regulations (possession of liquor).”
In addition, Sergeant Sefara said, a total of 93 traffic fines amountinf to R82 950 were issued. Fines were also issued for dealing in counterfeit goods, selling expired items, and failure to keep record of dispatched items, amounting to R93 450. Some goods were also confiscated.
All arrested suspects are expected to appear in the respective magistrates’ courts in the district soon.
Although men were part of the major operation, leading from the front were women after Major General Fred Kekana, the West Rand District Police Commissioner decided to hand over his responsibilities to all senior female police officers to observe Women’s Month under the theme Generation Equality: Realising women’s rights for an equal future.
One of these senior female police officers were Colonel Dora Morebudi, the Carletonville Visible Policing Commander. She thanked all female law-enforcement officers and their counterparts for their efforts and dedication by preventing and combating anything that may threaten the safety and security of any community, and by ensuring that offenders face the might of the law.
We will continue to stamp our authority to ensure that law and order is maintained,” she said.
