Safer festive season operations make an impact
LIMPOPO – A total of 845 suspects were nabbed across the five districts of the province for various offences during the safer festive season operations that law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders conducted between 11 and 17 November.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), South African defence Force (SANDF), government departments, private security and other stakeholders with a similar mandate of fighting crime formed part of the integrated operations.
They were executed through roadblocks, stop-and-searches and tracing of wanted suspects. The offences for which the suspects were arrested include murder, rape, burglaries, robberies, malicious damage to property, possession of gold bearing material, and possession of drugs as well as contravention of the Immigration Act.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson, said about 44 suspects were nabbed for possession of drugs and 30 for malicious damage to property.
Ledwaba highlighted that the multidisciplinary teams recovered a commercial explosive, five firearms, 29 dangerous weapons, three stolen or hijacked vehicles, 2.722kg of dagga, 10g of heroin and 16.38g of nyaope.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, emphasised on the significance of partnership policing that resulted in major strides in the fight against crime.
General Hadebe remarked, “We welcome the arrests and appreciate the community and police relations. It is through community participation and all our stakeholders that we continue to make our presence felt in our respective areas. This partnership will continue beyond the festive season due to its impact.”
The arrested suspects started appearing before their local Magistrates’ courts from Monday, 18 November.
