At least 20 people were arrested and 12 firearms seized during a 24-hour cycle of police operations.
The SAPS said on Saturday, that the suspects were linked to serious and violent crimes, including murder, house robbery, hijacking, house-breaking, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition as well as possession of suspected stolen properties.
Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said of the 12 firearms seized during these operations, six pistols were recovered in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, following a shooting.
“Information was received through crime intelligence about the armed suspects who were shooting at Mamelodi hostel on 30 August,” Makhubele said, adding that officers from the Ekurhuleni tactical response trio task team went to the house where the suspects were believed to be hiding.
“During the search, three unlicensed firearms were seized and seven suspects were arrested.
“An unlicensed firearm was recovered from another man in a separate operation while two more firearms were seized during a stop and search operation also in Mamelodi,” Makhubele said.
In separate incidents in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, 11 people were arrested in intelligence-driven and stop and search operations.
“Those arrested will face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and robbery.”
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela commended the work done by the officers and urged communities to continue working with them to fight crime by contacting their Crime Stop number 08600-10111 or by giving a tip-off on the MySAPS app.
Those arrested were expected to appear in various magistrate courts in the province on Monday, 14 September.
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