West Rand police intensified efforts over the past weekend as part of their Safer Festive Season Operations, arresting 179 suspects for crimes ranging from drug dealing to operating unlicensed liquor outlets.

The provincial launch of these operations was led by Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, who said the initiative aims to curb crimes during the festive season and outlined the key priorities.

“These priorities include intensifying roadblocks, stop-and-search operations, raids on liquor outlets, patrols at taxi ranks, bus terminals, train stations, and shopping centres, tackling the proliferation of firearms, as well as addressing issues of gender-based violence and femicide,” he explained.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that, besides the West Rand arrests, 75 people were also arrested across Gauteng for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, while more than 1 000 arrests were made province-wide for other offences.

“The suspects arrested in the West Rand and Sedibeng districts will appear before various magistrate courts, while some were released after paying admission of guilt fines,” Masondo concluded.