SAPS efforts to ensure that all those who disregard the supremacy of the law are arrested and face the consequences of their actions were rewarded when 1 359 suspects were arrested, 25 illegal firearms, 24 revolvers and 1 (one) rifle, 45 ammunition and nine (9) vehicles were recovered over the past ten (10) days throughout the province under the guidance of Operation Command Centre in all 22 clusters.
The charges range from murder, business robbery, rape, stock theft, driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal possession of firearm, possession of drugs and illegal dealing in alcohol, to name but a few. Drugs like mandrax, dagga, cocaine, crystal meth and 1 830 litres of alcohol were also seized during the operation.
Through these well-coordinated operations, members also recovered 17 cattle and 46 suspected stolen sheep. The sheep were recovered in Mthatha near Bityi on 11 August after ninety (90) sheep’s were reported stolen at Qunu. The sheep were found locked in an abandoned house and no suspect was arrested. They were positively identified and handed over to their rightful owner. The seventeen cattle were recovered through a collaborative effort between Katkop, Qumbu and Bizana Stock Theft Units. Two of these cattle were identified while the remaining fourteen are impounded at Qumbu Municipal Pound and a call is made all stock owners and/or farmers who may have lost or missing cattle to come and identify. Proof of ownership will be required.
All the suspects have appeared in the relevant Magistrates Courts throughout the Eastern Cape facing respective charges.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga expressed her gratitude and said she is impressed with the arrests and confiscations especially in fighting the trio crimes like armed robbery, vehicle hijacking and business robbery because of their violent and aggravating nature. “The arrest of such a high number of suspects meets our resolve and objective to remove offenders from the community and guarantee their availability for court appearance. The recovery of 25 firearms from the hands of the suspects helps us move a step closer to achieve our objective in the fight against the proliferation of illegal firearms in our province”, said Lt Gen Ntshinga.