LEAP shows another week of success, suspect in multiple rape cases arrested
The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, welcomes the latest report of LEAP activities. A number of illegal firearms have been removed from the streets, as well as suspects arrested for various criminal activity in crime hotspots.
On Wednesday, 1 December 2021, after meeting with Mfuleni SAPS detectives, LEAP officers were able to track down a suspect who is wanted in connection with rape cases in the Mfuleni and Westbank areas. The suspect was hiding in Sea Point, and was upon arrest by LEAP Officers, was taken to Mfuleni Police Station to be processed.
On Thursday, 2 December 2022 at around 22:00, LEAP Officers came across one suspicious person while patrolling in Crossroads. When officers stopped to search the suspect, the suspect started to run away. After giving chase, officers managed to apprehend the suspect and search him, whereupon they found a firearm with no seriel number, one magazine and five rounds of ammunition. The suspect was informed of his rights and taken to Nyanga SAPS.
Minister Fritz said, “these incidents above happen regularly during the course of shifts of LEAP officers. These are not unusual or extraordinary incidents. Every single day our officers patrol, search suspects, confiscate illegal firearms, guns and suspected stolen property. Our LEAP officers are enhancing visible policing and are making our communities safer for our residents.”
On Saturday, 4 December 2021, officers conducted a house search at a premises known for gang activity in Hanover Park. Officers asked to search a person they found in the house and found a firearm and one round of ammunition in his right pocket, for which he had no license.
On Monday, 6 December 2021 at around 01:30, gunshots were heard in Mentz Court in Hanover Park. After investigating, officers found one firearm and five live rounds lying on the floor. The firearm was booked in at Philippi SAPS station.
For the week 22 – 28 November 2021, a total of 7407 suspicious persons were searched; 228 houses were searched; 690 vehicles were searched in 21 roadblocks and;142 inspections were conducted at liquor sites.
Over the seven-day period, 44 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs; 10 were arrested for possession of dangerous weapons; and others arrested for various other offences, to bring the total number of people arrested over the seven-day period to 80.
Varying quantities of drugs, dangerous weapons, liquor and suspected stolen goods were also confiscated.
Minister Fritz said, “these activities show that criminals don’t have free reign in our communities. And together with the SAPS and Metro Police, that is the value of our LEAP officers’ work. We are restoring law and order, and this lays the foundation for our violence prevention interventions to now enter and take root in our communities. Ultimately, SAPS, Metro Police and LEAP are working to ensure that our violence prevention partners have the space to address the root causes and drivers of crime and violence in our communities.”
Minister Fritz concluded, “I would like to thank the SAPS, Metro Police and LEAP officers for their sterling work in making our communities safer. We know that this is no time to sit back; we know that there is still a lot of work to be done. But it is important to acknowledge the good work of all our law enforcement agencies. And so we thank these officers for working for the benefit of our citizens.”
Source: Government of South Africa