Day: May 29, 2022

PARKTOWN - The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela was joined by the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Ms Faith Mazibuko as he led yet another Operation O Kae Molao which resulted in the arrest of more than 550 suspects who have been on the run after committing serious and violent crimes that include murder, armed robbery, rape, fraud, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, housebreaking and theft. These suspects were arrested during the first phase of the operation, where the detectives were tracing wanted suspects.

The second phase of Operation O Kae Molao is where integrated law enforcement agencies conducted a roadblock to ensure that there were no illegal goods and substances transported by the road users and to search for stolen and hijacked vehicles. During the roadblock in Protea, Soweto, 12 people were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, three cars that were suspected to be stolen/hijacked/used in the commission of crime were seized and 18 undocumented foreign nationals were taken in to be processed by officials from the Department of Home Affairs. More than 270 other people were arrested for various crimes in Johannesburg District over the weekend.

Meanwhile, other districts also conducted weekend operations that resulted in the arrest of 490 people in Tshwane District, 426 in Ekurhuleni District, 168 in West Rand District and 87 in Sedibeng District.

Arrested suspects will appear at different Magistrates’ Court in due course.

Source: South African Police Service

Leading the National Campaign on Child Protection is the Station Commander of the Chatsworth Police Station Brigadier Ruth De Villiers together with her two foot soldiers Captain Hope and Sergeant Faith. "Ubuntu nguni bantu, umntu ngumntu ngabantu, humanity to others, I am because we are." Unquote, Brigadier Ruth De Villiers echoed these sentiments as she welcomed learners from a local school to the station on Sunday, 29 May 2022.

Rays of light and smiley faces shone from the learners as they gazed upon superheroes Captain Hope and Sergeant Faith. Brigadier De Villiers together with her team started a campaign at the station called “We Serve, We Protect, We Honour”. The angels in blue are thankful for the grace upon their lives that they made personal pledges, joining their hearts with the Station Commander, committing to pledging schools shoes to disadvantaged children from our community. Thus far, the initiative has gained momentum with the team making personal pledges of one hundred and twenty pairs of shoes.

The Champions of Hope took it a step further by personalising the shoeboxes with insignia of the South African Police Service. May the learners “Dream, Believe and Achieve” all that their young hearts may desire. As they put on their Bata Toughee shoes, may they take steps of boldness knowing that the police are their protectors? Knowing that should they become victims of crime, that the police stations are lighthouses for them to find their way. The police have made it possible to walk into their destiny.

Captain Pillay, Communications Officer at the station addressed the learners of the important role that police officers play in their lives. In keeping with the theme of Child Protection Week, “Putting Children First”, police reached out through this campaign to restore hope and faith to these budding learners. Through visual aids, police cautioned children on taking sweets from strangers, which could affect their wellbeing and safety. An inactive session with the future leaders in society as police held a session engaging with them on stranger danger, which may result in kidnapping and child trafficking.

Every learner received a pair of shoes that will enable him or her to attend school daily. The Paper Bag Campaign afforded personnel to assist with stationery, police lunch boxes, hand sanitisers, toys, juices and sweet treats for the children. The children were given educational pamphlets on the rights of children which also had important numbers should they be in need of any assistance. May we continue to be an extension of Gods hand and heart to those who are in need? It is a possible mandate for member of the South African Police Service to commit to this end.

The Station Commander Brigadier Ruth De Villiers shared joy with her team as we displayed humanitarian acts of love to children unknown to us. We remain Mothers to a nation where special moments of love will remain embedded in the hearts of these young children as well as ours. This message of goodwill displayed through police personnel tells the world that miracles do happen.

Source: South African Police Service

DURBAN: Police officers from the Provincial Trio and Vehicle Task Team received information of about a vehicle that was wanted for theft in Pietermaritzburg. It was reported that the vehicle entered the Newlands area.

Police and security officials immediately responded to the scene and the vehicle was spotted travelling on Cornfield Road in Newlands area. The vehicle was then intercepted and three males were found inside the vehicle and they were placed under arrest. It was established that the vehicle was stolen in Pietermaritzburg area. The suspects aged 32 and 39 will appear before the Durban Magistrates' Court on charges of possession of stolen property.

While the same team was still in the area, they spotted a vehicle that was travelling at a high speed. The said vehicle was chased and intercepted. Upon searching the suspect, he was found in possession of a pistol with rounds of ammunition. The investigation revealed that the firearm was stolen in Hammarsdale during July 2021. The suspect aged 22 will appear in court tomorrow.

Two other vehicles were found abandoned in KwaDabeka and Cato Manor. One of the vehicle was hijacked at Ndunduma area in Clermont while the other was hijacked in Springfield Park. Police are still searching for the suspects.

Source: South African Police Service