By Kaya 959 Reporter
More than 900 people have been arrested in police sting operations in Gauteng.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the revamped O Kae Molao operation was led by Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela.
“From Wednesday last week, police teams conducted raids, held roadblocks and stop and search operations. A total of 969 people were arrested. Police also seized suspected stolen property, liquor and firearms,” she said.
Mawela led the multi-disciplinary stakeholder operation in Tshwane, Mamelodi on Thursday.
District Commissioners in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and West Rand simultaneously led operations in their respective districts.
ALSO READ: Ramaphosa moves SA to adjusted level 2 as Covid-19 infections drop
Suspects arrested for GBV, DUI
Muridili said stakeholders participating in the operation included, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, West Rand and Tshwane Metropolitan Police Departments, Departments of Correctional Services and Home Affairs.
PRASA, Gauteng Traffic, officials from Gauteng Community Safety, Tracker, 1Track Security, Fidelity Security, Community Policing Forum, Community in Blue Patrollers and Gauteng Liquor Board also participated.
“Of the arrested suspects, 200 were caught for gender-based violence and femicide-related offences while 14 were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and 80 are undocumented immigrants. The others were charged with various crimes including possession of unlicensed firearms, assault GBH and dealing in drugs,” she said.
Police said liquor compliance on the other hand resulted in the closure of 45 liquor outlets operating without a license.
Two liquor outlets owners were charged for non-compliance with the Disaster Management Act regulations for trading after stipulated hours.
The police also seized liquor from the liquor outlets that were closed.
The team that worked with vehicle tracking companies and SAPS Vehicle Identification Unit recovered eight vehicles with positive cases, stolen or hijacked, and 17 vehicles that had their engines tampered with and four vehicles were discontinued.
“Other seizures included 13 040,64 grams of dagga, 37 tables of mandrax, crystal meth, 42 sachets of nyaope, two unlicensed firearms and over R13 000 in cash.
“The successes obtained from this operation alone are indicative of the commitment that law enforcement agencies, the community, civil society and private stakeholders have in reducing the levels of crime in Gauteng,” Mawela said.



