Police in this province is making headway in their pursuit to disarm criminals with the seizure of 30 unlicensed firearms and the arrest of 32 suspects this week during various crime prevention initiatives.
On Friday evening, 29 January 2021, at about 23:15, the members attached to the Provincial Integrated Team were conducting a stop and search operation in Oscar Mpetha Street Makhaya Khayelitsha, when they stopped a silver VW Jetta with only one occupant. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a 9mm pistol and the arrest of a 54-year-old suspect for the possession of an unlicensed firearm.
On Saturday, Philippi East members arrested a suspect after he was found in possession of a prohibited firearm in the bushes near the R300.
In another arrest in Philippi East yesterday, 30 January 2021, members attended to a shooting incident that occurred at a supermarket where a person was shot and wounded. Two suspects aged 46 and 49 were apprehended and an unlicensed firearm with ammunition was confiscated. They are facing charges of attempted murder and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Meanwhile, Mitchell’s Plain police arrested two suspects aged 30 and 44 after they were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition on Friday, in East Ridge and Tafelsig.
On Wednesday, 27 January 2021, at about 14:00, police received a complaint of a robbery at Voortrekker Street in Citrusdal, where armed men, driving two vehicles, robbed a minibus from the driver. Four of the suspects were armed. Two suspects took the minibus and drove away in the direction of Cape Town. The other eight suspects drove away with their two vehicles out of Citrusdal on the N7 towards Cape Town. Police pursued the suspects and apprehended them and confiscated two rifles and a pistol. The suspects appeared in court on Friday, 29 January 2021.
On Thursday, 28 January 2021, Winelands police seized two firearms and ammunition and detained nine suspects in Wellington.
In Mitchell’s three suspects were arrested and six firearms and ammunition were confiscated.
Four more suspects were arrested in Philippi, Mitchell’s Plain, and Lansdowne, and four prohibited firearms were seized.
On Friday afternoon members of Maitland, Flying Squad received information about a hijacked vehicle in the Athlone area. Members saw the vehicle in a parking area. As the members were waiting for back up, the suspects noticed police started to shoot at members with automatic rifles. One of the SAPS members was wounded in the leg and is recovering in hospital. The suspects fled in another vehicle that was recovered later. An AK 47 rifle was also found in the vehicle. No arrests were made as yet. Police investigations continue.
The Western Cape Provincial management commended the commitment of the members to bring the perpetrators to book and for removing unlicensed firearms and ammunition from the streets.
Large quantity of firearms and ammunition seized during crime prevention operations https://t.co/N6uUDSlC40#ArriveAlive #Operations #GunsOffTheStreets @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/jHzTcRHxPp
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) February 1, 2021