Police hold roadblocks in Tubatse
Six illegal immigrants were deported back to their respective countries
BURGERSFORT – The Tubatse police in partnership with the provincial local traffic departments and the immigration office of the department of home affairs held a major operation in town, led by the deputy provincial commissioner of operations in Limpopo, Maj Gen Benny Ntlemeza.
Operation “kitima tsotsi” involved roadblocks conducted on August 21 from 07:00.
These were held at all the four main entries into the Platinum City from Steelpoort, Ohrigstad, Lydenburg and Polokwane. Law enforcers also concentrated on the streets of the town and taxi ranks.
The police mounted unit were seen patrolling the streets on horseback while a police chopper covered the action from the air.
Specialists from the vehicle identification section, detectives, tactical response unit, public order policing unit, K9 unit, flying squad and motor cycle unit participated.
More than 50 people were arrested for driving without licences and drunken driving. Six illegal immigrants were deported back to their respective countries.
Unlicensed firearms, okapi (knives), and 30 gram of dagga were also seized by police.
A total of 14 taxis were impounded for not having valid operating licences, another five vehicles were also confiscated on suspicion of being stolen where engine numbers were tampered with.
A total of 97 counterfeit DVDs were also confiscated.
There were mixed reactions from locals regarding the stop-and-searches One taxi driver lambasted the police, “They don’t search everyone, it seems like they are targeting us.
There are criminals at the mall that rob innocent people everyday. They are disturbing the traffic and the kids writing exams.”
Some say the roadblocks are costly intrusions into the lives of an otherwise law-abiding public, while others applauded the police for an excellent job.
But police say the roadblocks are effective as a deterrent and as a way to get drunk drivers and stolen cars off the road and to also deport illegal immigrants. They also say they are cost-effective.
The roadblocks were part of crime prevention operations by the police and other law-enforcement agencies to deal with crime and to enforce traffic laws.
Col Ronnie van Niekerk, station commander of Burgersfort police says the operation was implemented because of the recent strikes in the area and taxi feuds.
“It is the first of more to come. It is an attempted to clamp down on criminality and lawlessness in Tubatse; we hope to flush out criminals.”
