PARKTOWN – Forty-five people who were found driving while under the influence of alcohol are among 1420 suspects arrested by the police in Gauteng over the weekend. During the launch of Provincial Safer Festive Season Operations, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela indicated that one of the focus areas this festive season was to deal decisively with those who drink and drive, to prevent road fatalities.
In the first operation after the launch, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela was joined by the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele and Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Ms Faith Mazibuko as he led Operation O Kae Molao in Ennerdale policing precinct which include Finetown, where eleven people were shot recently.
This multidisciplinary operation resulted in the arrest of seventeen (17) undocumented foreign nationals, twenty-one (21) people who were found driving while under the influence of alcohol and eleven (11) unlicensed liquor outlets that are regarded as the generators of crime were closed down. More than three hundred (300) other suspects were arrested in Johannesburg District for offences ranging from murder, robbery, rape, assault, possessions of an unlicensed firearm and dealing in drugs.
Furthermore, three hundred and eighty-three (383) suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni District for crimes ranging from murder, ATM bombing, pointing of firearm, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, theft, rape, malicious damage to property and tempering with essential infrastructure.
Three hundred and fifty (350) people were apprehended in Tshwane District for crimes ranging from possession of drugs, common robbery, malicious damage to property, illegal possession of a firearm, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, murder and carjacking.
Three hundred and fifty-five (355) suspects were nabbed in Sedibeng and West Rand Districts for allegations of murder, pointing of firearm, possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition, armed robbery and rape.
Some of the suspects were released after paying admission of guilt fines while others are expected to appear at various Magistrate Courts within Gauteng on Monday, 07 November 2022.
Source: South African Police Service