The Uthukela SAPS Cluster task team, as well as officers from the various stations and units in the cluster, clamped down on crime during July and August.
A syndicate dealing in hijacked and stolen vehicles was cracked. The suspects were operating a chop shop in the Ezakheni area. These suspects are presently answering to several counts of robbery which occurred in several areas within and outside of the Uthukela Cluster.
A large number of suspects were arrested for crimes such as murder, armed robbery and house robbery. Other offences include possession of firearms and ammunition, common robbery, business burglary, possession of dagga, dealing in liquor without a licence, stock theft, public violence, malicious injury to property, and drunken driving.
In addition, vehicles, firearms and ammunition, drugs, livestock, liquor, as well as other stolen property was recovered by the diligent officers.
Hundreds of premises, vehicles and persons were searched during the various operations.
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A large number of unlicensed firearms – including assault rifles, hunting rifles, shotguns and handguns – as well as ammunition was recovered.
In a single case of burglary that occurred in the Colenso area, 12 firearms as well as other stolen property was recovered. All the recovered firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing, which could result in other crimes being solved.
The officers got several hundred kilograms of dagga with a high street value off the streets, along with ‘hard’ drugs such as heroin, mandrax and crack cocaine. This also resulted in suspects being arrested.
In one case of stock theft, the owner of the cattle (who resides in the Free State) was not aware that her stock had been stolen. She was pleasantly surprised when contacted by police, and received all her stolen property back.
65 suspects were arrested for public violence when roads in the Colenso, Ekuvukeni and Bergville areas were blockaded during protests.
The Acting Cluster Commander commended her managers and officers on the ground, encouraging them to continue to make the Uthukela Cluster a safer place to live.
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