North stop and search operation ‘successful’
Police officers stationed at Soshanguve Pretoria North were conducting a stop and search operation on Aubrey Matlala Street as part of crime prevention.
A Soshanguve police, Gauteng traffic department and Tshwane metro police joint-operation recently yielded positive results.
Spokesperson Constable Zanele Mtsweni said the 80-man joint stop and search operation in Aubrey Matlala Street had netted a big fish.
She said a 41-year-old man was arrested for possession of an illegal firearm when he was allegedly found with an R5 rifle with a serial number filed off.
She said the operation was aimed at reducing the high number of armed robberies, car hijackings and ATM robberies which were common towards the end of the month in Soshanguve.
Vehicles and people were searched for possession of dangerous weapons, stolen goods and drugs.
“The recovery of this rifle will help us in other cases. Everyone who owns a firearm needs to have a permit,” said Brigadier Thine Samuel.
“These operations will continue throughout the year to ensure a heightened police visibility in the cluster.”
Mtsweni said six other men were arrested on suspicion they were in the country illegally, driving a motor vehicle without a licence and the negligent handling of a firearm.
But some residents were unhappy.
Minibus taxi passengers were forced to abandon their taxi when the driver was delayed in the roadblock because he didn’t have a driver’s licence.
“I went grocery shopping and I expected to be dropped off at my house but now we have to pay for another taxi,” said passenger David Khoza.
Local business owner who shop was raided, Tebogo Mashigo, said she felt harassed by the police.
“There are a lot of crimes happening in our township and the police officers do not take us seriously when we report to them. Today they have the guts to come to the community and search our space the way they want. That is not fair,” said Mashigo.
Midrand resident Edwin Mathuthu who was in Soshanguve on a work errand congratulated the police despite being delayed by more than an hour.
“The officers are doing their job. I support everything they do as long as it has to do with crime prevention,” said Mathuthu.
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https://rekordnorth.co.za/128804/north-man-caught-with-unlicensed-riffle/
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