Cape Town: With integrated police deployments in full force in anticipation of new year and holiday activities, Western Cape police have recorded fewer crime incidents and significant successes since Thursday, 31 December 2020 evening with lockdown regulations in effect.
A total of 2 915 fines were issued for the contravention of the Disaster Management Act regulations, the majority of the transgressions (2185) were for failure to confine in place of residence between 21:00 and 6:00.
Twenty nine (29) illegal shebeens were closed down with 32 arrests for sale, dispensing and distributing liquor. A total of 11 000 litres of alcohol were confiscated during the policing operations over the weekend.
Thirteen firearms and 100 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated in different areas throughout the Province.
*Belhar police pursued crucial information on Friday, 01 January 2021 about firearms at a house in Extension 13 in Belhar. Upon searching the premises they discovered three unlicensed firearms. Two suspects aged 62 and 48 were subsequently arrested. The area where the discovery was made is notorious for gang fights. The suspects will appear in court on Monday, 04 January 2021 on charges of illegal possession of firearms.
*Meanwhile at the Range in Elsies River on Friday evening, members responding to sporadic shooting incidents, seized a firearm, rounds of ammunition, cash and an assortment of drugs including mandrax tablets and tik. A 32-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition as well as dealing in drugs. During the arrest police were pelted with stones resulting in one member sustaining injury. An assortment of large quantities of drugs comprising mandrax tablets, crystal meth and dagga were also seized in various operations.
* A vehicle checkpoint held in the early hours of Sunday morning in Laingsburg in the Karoo, led to the discovery of 70kg of dagga in bags found in a taxi destined for Cape Town. A 27-year-old passenger from Belhar was henceforth arrested. He will appear in court on Monday, 4 January 2021.
Police officials were also deployed on beaches along the Garden Route, Overberg, West Coast and Cape Town to ensure adherence to level 3 restrictions. While most beaches were deserted, there were a few transgressors who were dealt with.
* During compliance inspections on beaches in the Overberg on Friday police removed and fined 15 persons from three beaches in Pringle Bay, Onrus and Castle Beach. Fines to the value of R15 000 were issued.
The compliance inspections by law enforcement agencies in the areas also focused on taxi ranks, spaza shops, other businesses, shopping centres, funerals and other public spaces.
The police activities comprising roadblocks, raids, vehicle checkpoints, compliance inspections and targeted operations, also form part of the Safer Festive Season programme which is set to continue until the end of the holiday season in an effort to ensure all are and feel safe.
Western Cape SAPS management have thanked the majority of people for heeding the call to observe the level 3 regulations and respecting the rule of law.