In our endeavours to strengthen the relationships between police and the communities, SAPS members followed up on information received and arrested several suspects in Woodstock, Manenberg and Steenberg.
On Thursday, 2022-03-18, members attached to Maitland Flying Squad received information about a learner on a secondary school premises in Woodstock with a firearm in his possession. Members attended to the complaint and found a 14-year-old child with a in his possession. The suspect was arrested on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was detained at Woodstock SAPS. The suspect will appear in the Cape Town Magistrates court on Tuesday, 2022-03-22 on the mentioned charges.
In an unrelated matter on 2022-03-18, members attached to Anti-Gang Unit operationalised information, executed it at several identified addresses in Heideveld, Manenberg, and arrested three males aged between 39 and 41. The arrests were effected in three separated crime prevention operation incidents.
On the same day at 18:30 the AGU members arrested a 41-year-old male, in Easter Peak Road pointed out. The suspect through further investigations is linked to three of the gang murders currently investigated within the Manenberg policing precinct.
Within the same vicinity of Easter Peak Road, a 41-year-old male was arrested for illegal possession of ammunition, after information was received regarding ammunition being stored on the premises. The members did some digging on the premises to discover 185 9mm rounds, twenty five 7.65mm and three 9mm short rounds, totalling 213 rounds of ammunition.
At 22:15 whilst doing stop and searches in the area a 39-year-old man was arrested in Kasouga Road, Manenberg for the illegal possession of ammunition when he was found with two 9mm rounds.
The three suspects are due to appear in the Athlone Magistrate on Tuesday, 2022-03-22 on their respective charges.
Meanwhile on 2022-03-18 at about 18:08, members attached to Steenberg Crime Prevention Unit executed a search warrant at a premises in Sullivan Street, Steenberg after receiving information of firearms being stored on the premises. Members searched the bedroom and between the speakers located a pistol with magazine and six rounds. They arrested a 46-year-old man on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. The firearm was handed in as exhibit at Steenberg SAPS Still on other operations, Vutha Hawe tracing operations saw 606 wanted suspects’ freedom short lived when they were arrested during the week on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault common, house robbery, residential burglary, sexual offences, domestic violence and possession of firearms and drugs.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile commended the members for their vigilance and commitment in protecting local communities. He also thanked the community for their support in reporting crime. Lt General Patekile lauded partnership policing as the key to safer and illegal firearm-free communities.
Source: South African Police Service