Picture: Police conducting stop and search across Northern Cape/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
15 December 2024- The Safer Festive Season Operations is in full swing in all five districts in the Northern Cape. The operations encompass high-density operations that include regular roadblocks, stop and searches, the tracking and tracing of wanted suspects and the heightened police visibility.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police visibility aimed at preventing, combating serious and violent crimes during this holiday season and beyond.
Sam further said the weekly multi-disciplinary high density operations which commenced on 9 until 15 December 2024, executed resulted in the apprehension and arrest of 458 suspects and the confiscation of numerous items.
He added that the police actions included vehicle check points (VCPs) and roadblocks that were conducted across the province during which a total of 5226 vehicles and 13 155 persons were stopped and searched.
“Numerous compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, as well as farms were executed.
“Operational successes achieved, included the arrest of 414 suspects for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, murder, attempted murder, assault, burglary, illegal dealing in liquor, theft off or out of motor vehicle, malicious damage to property, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, robbery, rape and possession of dangerous weapons,” said Sam.
He said this includes dealing in and possession of drugs, illegal immigrants, illicit mining, possession of precious metals, stock theft and other crimes. Sam said the police in Niewoudtville, Garies and Springbok in the Namakwa District, arrested criminal elements for drugs and non-ferrous metal crimes.
“In Petrusville, Pixley Ka Seme District, police nabbed a drug dealer with drugs concealed in a “Spookie” packet of chips and seized all exhibits. More than 44 wanted suspects were traced and brought to book by detectives for evading court appearances and contravention of court orders.
“The police confiscated large volumes of alcoholic beverages, drugs, dangerous weapons, copper and cash that is believed to be the proceeds of crime and closed 37 unlicensed liquor premises,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, expressed her gratitude to the District Commissioners for taking a lead in ensuring all boots are on the ground during this festive season and applauded all law enforcement agencies for the collective efforts and actions executed during this period. She also urged all to be alert, vigilant and report any suspicious criminal activity immediately to the police using the SAPS 08600 10111 number, the MySAPS app and or inform a friend or security.
The Guardian 