Tag Archives: Fisheries and the Environment

Four suspects nabbed during Operation Phakisa

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Picture: Police conduct a search at costal port entry/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

24 March 2026 – The police in the Northern Cape in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Customs (Delivered Duty Unpaid), the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, as well as the Northern Cape Provincial Traffic, conducted the renowned coastal Operation Phakisa from 19 until 23 March 2026.

The police said the primary objective of these operations was to address various forms of crime in Kleinzee, Port Nolloth, Alexander Bay and Groenrivier, particularly those associated with ports of entry and coastal activities.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said the police deployed specialised units such as Border Policing, Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (Springbok), Springbok K9 Unit, Highway Patrol, Springbok Crime Intelligence and Inland Water Policing. Litabe said the police conducted search operations at various residential and business premises.

“A total of 142 vehicles, 242 individuals and 61 vessels were searched. The operations also included the establishment of Vehicle Control Points, as well as compliance inspections at harbours, mining areas, camping sites, launching pads and restaurants.

“The operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects in Port Nolloth, including one suspect for driving under the influence of alcohol, two suspects for dealing in drugs during cordon and search operations, one suspect for possession of drugs,” he said.

Litabe further said a total of 24 fines, amounting to R11 600 were issued for contraventions of the National Road Traffic Act. He added that six individuals were fined for contraventions of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998).

“During the operation, members confiscated mandrax tablets to the estimated value of R2 195.20, cash, snoek fish, eight packets of cut snoek pieces and three packets of yellowtail snoek that had been cut into portions.

“All arrested suspects are expected to appear in court soon,” said Litabe.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the police and all partner departments for the successful execution of the operation.

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Hydroponic dagga worth R336 000 seized

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Picture: Dagga found concealed in a courier vehicle/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

27 January 2026 – A multi-disciplinary team comprising of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, SANParks, Delivered Duty Unpaid and Customs, embarked on Operation Phakisa activities in the region of Namakwa from 22 until 26 January 2026.

The police said these targeted operations were executed with the aim of addressing criminal activities that are highly prevalent within the marine environment of the Northern Cape.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said the SAPS Specialised Units, including K9, Crime Intelligence, Radio Technical, Search and Rescue, Highway Patrol, Vehicle Crime Investigative Unit and Border Policing, in partnership with their counterparts from other departments, worked together in a concerted effort to conduct disruptive actions within the District of Namakwa during the operations.

Litabe said actions that were executed, included search operations, visits to launching pads, camping sites, mining areas, aquaculture farms, patrols and compliance inspections in Port Nolloth, Alexander Bay, Kleinzee, Groenriviermond, Sandkop/Rooikoppies and Hondeklipbaai.

“Two suspects were arrested for the contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 while nine fines to the value of R7200, were issued for the contravention of the National Traffic Act. Three fines amounting to R3 100 were issued for contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998.

“The operations also resulted in the seizure of Hydroponic dagga with an estimated street value of R336 000 that was found concealed in packages transported by a courier company. Other marine life seized, included undersized fish species to the value of R2000,” he said.

Litabe further said Vehicle Check Points (VCPs) also resulted in numerous vehicles and persons being stopped and searched. He added that sea patrols were also conducted along the shorelines of Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay by the SAPS Water wing.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the collaborative efforts by the different departments in an attempt to clamp down on marine related crimes and to stamp down the authority of the state along the shoreline and coastal areas of the province.

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