Limpopo: In an effort to address priority crimes in the Frances Baard District, the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Major General Keagekae Besnaar, together with the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, and the Frances Baard Acting District Commander, Brigadier Nicholas Mtongana, led high-density operations in the district on Friday, 26 September 2025.
According to South African Police Service, the operations were carried out by provincial components, districts, stations, and specialised units, including the SAPS Air Wing, across the greater Kimberley, Barkly West, Delportshoop, Vaalharts, and Modderrivier policing areas. The teams were supported by officials from the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Services, as well as traffic units from the Northern Cape Provincial Government and Sol Plaatje Municipality.
The focus of the operations was on curbing the movement and proliferation of drugs, substance abuse, illicit metals, and other contraband that are often linked to contact crimes. Detectives executed tracing operations which resulted in the arrest of 55 wanted suspects across the district for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, assault, burglary, theft, drug possession, and stock theft to contraventions of the Domestic Violence Act.
In addition, 14 undocumented immigrants were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act and processed by the Department of Home Affairs. One employer was fined R20 000 for unlawfully employing undocumented persons.
Numerous roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints (VCPs) were held on national and secondary roads. During these actions, 539 vehicles and 1,011 persons were stopped and searched, and pamphlets containing safety information were distributed.
Further successes included the arrest of a suspect for tampering with essential infrastructure and the seizure of 4kg of copper cables. The confiscation of dagga removed from circulation and the closure of several unlicensed liquor outlets, with a significant amount of liquor seized.
A total of 89 traffic fines amounting to R59,400 were issued for various contraventions of the Road Traffic Management Act, some with options to appear in court.
Major General Keagekae Besnaar extended his appreciation to all law enforcement agencies and stakeholders who contributed to the successful execution of the operation. He reiterated that SAPS would continue to act decisively to combat contact crimes and clamp down on unregulated activities in the Frances Baard District as the Festive Season approaches.