Operation Paseka results in a safer environment for all

MBOMBELA – Since the beginning of March, police in the province worked around the clock to put a number of suspects behind bars.

With Operation Paseka, a national operation, the men and women in blue managed to nab 56 suspects for murder, 25 for attempted murder, 654 for assault with grievous bodily harm and 22 were arrested for armed robbery in Mpumalanga alone, Col Leonard Hlathi, provincial SAPS spokesman said.

According to Hlathi a further 263 had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and a total of 2 299 summons were issued against people who violated the Road Traffic Act.

Hlathi said a number of confiscations were also made which included 518 rounds of ammunition, 49 revolvers, 10 rifles, 43 magazines and 66 vehicles.

According to him many of the cars recovered were from drivers making their way to foreign countries. Drugs, ranging from crack, cocaine, heroin, Mandrax and CAT were also confiscated and according to Hlati, 873 suspects were successfully apprehended. The operation focused on six pillars including crime against women, children and vulnerable people; reduction of serious and violent property crimes; crimes depending on police actions for detection; road safety; enforcement of safety at sport and recreational events and transnational crimes. Hlati congratulated the SAPS members who had been involved in the operation and said it most definitely fuelled the members with more zeal. “The versatility of the members have intercepted these heartless individuals who live by inflicting pain on other people,” Hlati concluded.