The South African Police Service in Limpopo has intensified operation “Vhuthu Hawe” and the Tactical Intelligence-led Joint operations which were conducted until Sunday, 11 April 2021, that resulted in one thousand two hundred and three (1203) suspects arrested for different criminal offenses.
The suspects aged between 20 and 57 were apprehended for offenses such as murder, attempted murder, robberies, assault, common robbery, armed robbery, sexual offenses including rapes, burglary businesses, burglary residential, stock theft, theft of the motor vehicle, drug-related crimes, driving under the influence of liquor, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, Immigration Act, public drinking, Contravention of the Road Traffic Act and illegal dealing in liquor.
These operations comprised of various police units from all levels of Command in the Province were conducted through roadblocks, tracing of wanted suspects, intensive patrols, and stop and searches.
The Tactical joint operation conducted by the SAPS Limpopo Highway Patrol Team and the Provincial Tracking Team in the Capricorn District has made a major breakthrough over the weekend following the arrest of two (02) suspects aged 32 and 49 who allegedly shot a taxi driver, assaulted him and the passengers with a rifle at Leokama village in the Moletjie area next to Seshego High school under the Seshego policing area outside Polokwane. The suspects were allegedly driving a Toyota Etios vehicle with Gauteng province registration numbers. In the process, the driver and the passengers sustained serious injuries. The matter was reported to the Police who reacted swiftly and followed this vehicle which was reported to be traveling along the N1 North road heading towards Gauteng province. The vehicle was spotted at Nyl tollgate plaza and was cornered and stopped. During the arrest, it was discovered that the chassis number of the vehicle was tampered with and also established that the vehicle was utilised to commit a number of violent crimes in the Matlala, Seshego, Mankweng, and Polokwane policing precincts, respectively.
In addition, this Team of Police Officers further arrested two (02) suspects aged 26 and 46 for possession of explosives, possession of suspected stolen properties, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle and recovered 11 rolls of V6 explosives, 05 blasting cartridges, R1500.00 in cash, balaclavas and hand gloves. The suspects are also expected to be linked to other cases that were committed in the above policing areas because one of the arrested suspects, aged 46 is reportedly out on bail for similar offenses.
Meanwhile, the SAPS Limpopo Highway Patrol Team (LHP) has further arrested 15 suspects aged between 25 and 47 for possession and dealing in drugs and dagga, possession of suspected stolen properties, and possession of the suspected stolen motor vehicle, in the Mahwelereng, Mokopane town and Burgersfort town during their sting operations. In the process of this, a variety of items were recovered such as 15 matchboxes and 37 sachets containing dagga, R2 107.50 cash believed to have been gained through the selling of drugs and dagga, 78 plastics containing cat drugs and 03 wrapped papers containing rock drugs, Toyota corolla which is suspected to be stolen, knife and a wallet full of different bank cards which the suspect could not give account for.
The Police confiscated several items during the arrests as follows: 27 509 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, 04 motor vehicles, 12 firearms, 27 dangerous weapons plus 23 knives, 04 plasma TV’s, 104 727 grams of dagga, 12 dagga plants, 10 grams of cocaine drugs powder, 20 grams of cocaine drugs, crystal meth, mandrax drugs powder, 70 grams of nyaope drugs, 955 060ml of liquor and 1 514 fines were issued for the contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
The arrested suspects during these operations are expected to appear before the local magistrate’s courts across the province.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has applauded the outstanding work that was performed by the men and women in blue in ensuring that the citizens of the province are safely protected from the evil acts of criminals.