Hundreds arrested in police operations

At least 737 people were arrested during operations conducted by the police in the province at the weekend.

Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said 200 people were arrested in Tshwane while 150 others were arrested in the Ekurhuleni district and 138 others were arrested in the West Rand during O Kae Molao operations.

“The suspects were found to have committed offences that included assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of drugs, dealing in dagga, fraud, theft and reckless and negligent driving,” he said.

The operations kicked off in Ivory Park, Ekurhuleni, to fight crime and enforcement regulations to level 3 of the national lockdown.

Makhubele said the operation was headed by acting Gauteng provincial commissioner Major-General Tommy Mthombeni, provincial MEC for community safety Faith Mazibuko, Ekurhuleni acting district commissioner Brigadier Thembeka Gwebushe and other senior officers from varying law enforcement agencies.

“The operation started with a roadblock where six suspects were arrested for drunk driving, while seven vehicles were impounded after they were found with engines that were tampered with,” he said.

A total of 19 illegal immigrants were also said to have been arrested for processing as they reportedly had no documents to be in the country and 14 others arrested for contravention of the disaster management act.

“While patrolling in Ivory Park, the team pounced on a group of people, mostly youth, having a party at 01:20 – disregarding the curfew time with no social distancing and others not wearing face masks,” Makhubele said, adding that the group ran into different directions when they saw the police.

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