Show of force leads to 28 arrests

The SAPS held Operation Thunderstorm in and around Barberton and Emjindini over the weekend.It is a provincial surveillance operation designed to allow air and ground units to work together while monitoring any criminal activities in an area.

During this operation, a helicopter monitors the site from high above while the ground units set up roadblocks and patrol.

Col Mtsholi Bhembe, from the SAPS, said that such an operation is done in locations that have been identified by the police as problematic.

“Barberton was identified as one of the areas in the province which is problematic, hence visibility and monitoring is being done. We will work throughout the night and day monitoring everything,” said Bhembe.

Capt Jabu Ndubane, from Barberton SAPS said that several arrests were made during Operation Thunderstorm over the weekend.

“A total of 28 people were arrested. Seven wanted suspects; two for burglary, two for warrants of arrest, two for possession of stolen property and one for assault with grievous body harm.

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“Three were arrested for drunken driving, one arrested for selling liquor without a license, five were arrested for drinking in public, eight were arrested for coming into the country illegally, one was arrested for obstructing a police officer while executing his duties, two were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and one arrested for possession of dagga,” said Ndubane.

During the operation, the police recovered various items.

“Two unlicensed firearms, dagga weighing 57 grams, one toy gun, a Sansui flat screen, a BlackBerry smartphone and 58,430 millilitres of liquor,” said Ndubane.

“The operation was a great success, considering the fact that last week people were killed and this week it didn’t happen. Suspects were arrested and so many things were confiscated,” he added.

Last week Barberton Times published an article about three unknown men who were killed and one who was badly assaulted in separate incidents in and around Barberton over the Easter weekend.

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Two of the three men were killed during a fight between groups in Emjindini.

One of the deceased said the police must ask the group in Extension 11 before he died. The other one was found at Sheba Siding severely injured, however, he also died in hospital.

Last month people were injured‚ houses and cars set alight during a community ward meeting in Emjindini that ended in violence when a group of men disrupted the session.

Hi-Tech Security Barberton was also out in the streets assisting the police during the operation.