Over 13 000 suspects arrested in KZN in April

Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested 13 579 suspects for various crimes during April.

According to SAPS’ Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, in the month under review, police also recovered 313 firearms, 26 of which were rifles.

Magwaza added that 3 806 rounds of ammunition were recovered in the process.

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“These arrests are a culmination of hard work displayed by police officers who worked day and night in pursuing those individuals who are in conflict with the law. A concerted effort has been made in tackling contact crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, and many others,” said Magwaza.

“These efforts were not in vain, as the result of such was the arrest of 3 336 suspects for that crime category.

Topping this list with 1 540 arrests are suspects who were sought for cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Some 194 suspects were arrested for robbery, and a further 178 were brought in for cases of rape,” added Magwaza.

Moreover, Magwaza indicated that 178 arrests for rape, coupled with a further 34 arrests for various sexual offences in just 30 days, strongly signals the intent to deal decisively with those who continue to violate vulnerable groups in our society, such as women and children.

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Some 156 suspects were arrested for murder, and a further 140 were nabbed for attempted murder.

“The proliferation of drugs is a scourge that police management in KZN has committed to deal with relentlessly until the desired outcome is achieved. This was evident when 1 863 suspects were arrested for drug-related cases, and a large quantity of an assortment of drugs was seized in various parts of the province,” said Magwaza.

During operations, 140 suspects were arrested for being in unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

“Serious inroads have been made in stock theft and other livestock-related cases, and a combined number of 61 suspects were arrested for such crimes; however, police officers are still hard at work searching for suspects who are wanted for these crimes,” added Magwaza.

Meanwhile, a total of 229 suspects were arrested for burglary, and various household goods were recovered.

“The arrested suspects are going through the justice system in various courts around the province. The fight against crime and criminality continues enthusiastically, and police appreciate the continued support from community members,” said Magwaza.

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