PARKTOWN – Police in Gauteng continue to squeeze the space for the criminals and ensure that people in the province are and feel safe.

This past weekend, from Friday 19 August until 21 August 2022, over two thousand people were arrested as police were hard at work tracing for wanted suspects, conducting roadblocks, raiding taverns and performing stop and searches, among other crime prevention initiatives.

Four hundred and eighty-five (485) of these suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni where the Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, led the integrated Operation O Kae Molao. This operation included the roadblocks in Ivory Park on Saturday evening, 20 August 2022, where 32 suspects were arrested for being undocumented foreign nationals, twenty-eight for driving while under the influence of alcohol, one for possession of an unlicensed firearm, three vehicles impounded, three unlicensed shebeens closed down and seven arrested for dealing and possession of drugs. Other suspects were arrested during the tracing of wanted suspects who committed offences that include rape, murder, assault, housebreaking and theft, armed robbery, fraud, sexual assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Furthermore, seven hundred and seventy (770) people were arrested in Johannesburg District, four hundred and thirty-five (435) in Tshwane District, one hundred and eighty-four (184) in West Rand District and one hundred eighty-two (182) in Sedibeng District.

Some of the suspects were released after paying admission of guilty fine while others are expected to appear before various Magistrate Courts from Monday, 22 August 2022.

Source: South African Police Service