Evander Police fight crime in Amandla Settlement

EVANDER – Various police units in the province and national officials took part in a two-day cluster operation during which 27 arrests were made.

This operation took place on 15 and 16 April at the Amandla Settlement on the old Bracken Mine road between Evander and eMbalenhle.

All nine stations from the cluster, the National Intervention Unit, Airwing, the Mounted Unit, the Tactical Response Team, the Public Order Policing, the Bike Squad, K9, Crime Intelligence, the Local Criminal Record Centre, an investigation team and Organised Crime contributed towards the successful arrests.

Altogether 25 undocumented migrants were arrested and a generator that was used by illegal miners to pump water when they clean gold bearing material was recovered, as well as digging materials.

Two suspects were arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen copper cables valued at about R3 000.

The Amandla Settlement is known as a hotspot for crime and many illegal squatters from Lesotho live there.

Several cases of hijackings, rapes, armed robberies and murder in this settlement were opened at the Evander Police Station.

The fight over gold has already resulted in a number of murders.

Motorists and people using the old Bracken Mine must be cautious.

The same operation was conducted last July and the police were pleased to see a decline in serious cases.

“I hope this operation will make a difference in our community.”