Three incidents of vehicles being stoned were recorded in less than 24 hours this past weekend.

‘After a period of relative calm, it now appears that our firefighters are once more the target of senseless and dangerous attacks, often from the very people they are trained and deployed to help. One can’t be sure what the motivation is, but I want to reiterate to the public that attacking our emergency services staff is not the answer. In fact, all that will happen is that staff will be forced to wait for an enforcement escort before responding, which will slow down reaction times and put lives and property at unnecessary risk,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Just before 09:00 on Saturday, 2 October, firefighters from Gugulethu withdrew from the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Oliver Tambo Avenue in Manenberg, when the crowd became volatile and stoned their vehicle, damaging the windscreen and side passenger window

The second incident occurred just after 23:00 on Saturday evening, when pedestrians stoned a fire vehicle from Wynberg close to the Gugulethu Fire station. Again, the windscreen and side passenger window were damaged

Little more than an hour later, at 00:41, firefighters responded to informal structures alight in Isikhova street in Mfuleni. Shortly after arriving on scene, the crew was stoned by community members.

In other Safety and Security Directorate interventions, the enforcement services made 207 arrests in the past week and issued 61 963 fines for various transgressions.

CAPE TOWN TRAFFIC SERVICE

Officers arrested 77 suspects, impounded 90 vehicles, 99 cell phones and issued 56 045 fines.

Among those arrested, 51 were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

On Friday, 1 October 2021, two officers on patrol in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain were approached by a man who informed them that three suspects broke into his house, while he was present, and stole his car – a black VW Polo. While talking to the complainant, officers spotted the vehicle stopping at a red traffic light close by. They approached the vehicle, and the three occupants fled on foot.

The officers caught one of them hiding in the yard of a house, while SAPS officers who drove past and spotted the commotion, secured a second suspect, after he was run over by a vehicle while fleeing. The SAPS members then also helped find the third suspect, who was caught in Colorado Centre. He was also found in possession of an imitation firearm.

The three suspects were detained at Lentegeur SAPS on charges of armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.

‘This is yet another example of the excellent work that our staff do on a daily basis, and also how different agencies can work together for the greater good. I commend the officers for their swift reaction, and for going above and beyond to make sure that all three suspects were caught,’ added Alderman Smith.

The Law Enforcement Department made 79 arrests and issued 3 922 notices, while their Metro Police Department made 51 arrests and 1 996 fines.

Source: City Of Cape Town