The City’s enforcement agencies confiscated 15 firearms and several rounds of ammunition in July, and officers started the new month with yet another confiscation. And, during the past week, the three enforcement agencies made 177 arrests and issued 33 428 fines.
Law Enforcement Officers recovered 11 firearms in July. One confiscation happened in Atlantis on 15 July, while officers attached to LEAP recovered ten firearms – four in Nyanga, two in Hanover Park and one in Khayelitsha, Delft and Bishop Lavis respectively. This included a confiscation on Saturday, 31 July 2021 when LEAP officers were on patrol in Brown’s Farm when they observed a suspicious male. They searched the suspect and found him in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, including one empty case. The suspect, firearm and ammunition were booked in at the South African Police Service.
On 1 August 2021 at approximately 19:25, LEAP officers were patrolling in Rolbal Street, Beacon Valley area where shooting was reported earlier in the evening. A member of the public alerted officers to a firearm that was thrown on a roof by three alleged gang members.
Officers found a 9mm firearm on the roof, along with a magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition and another round in the chamber.
The City’s Metro Police Department confiscated five firearms, 50 rounds of ammunition and two imitation firearms in July.
‘Confiscating an illegal firearm means preventing a potentially serious crime from happening and protecting innocent lives from being lost. The latest recovery of an illegal handgun with a loaded magazine and one round chambered is a possible indication that the gang members were about to use the firearm. It also indicates that they are not afraid to use the illegal firearm while knowing very well that it is unlawful. There are far more illegal firearms in the possession of criminals then those we have confiscated. Our consistent and increased confiscation of illegal firearms send out a clear message to criminals that we will not allow them to roam the streets of our communities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
During general weekly enforcement operations, Law Enforcement officers arrested 63 suspects for offences such as metal theft and possession of drugs, and issued 3 236 fines.
Apart from the many enforcement operations conducted by officers they also go above and beyond the call of duty to protect lives. On 22 July 2021 Law Enforcement officers assisted a woman from Mitchell’s Plain who tried to commit suicide next to the R300. Officers succeeded in calming the woman in their patrol car as they waited for an ambulance that took her to hospital for professional medical assistance.
Metro Police
During weekly operations, officers arrested 58 suspects for crimes which included domestic violence and commercial crime. Officers also issued 2 546 fines.
On 1 August 2021 Metro Police officers were busy with a routine vehicle inspection in the Delft area. Officers attempted to stop a White VW Jetta at Delft Main Road but the driver ignored the instruction and drove away. Officers pursued the vehicle and managed to stop it at Duller Road. Officers approached the driver and they noticed that inside the vehicle there were two 750 ml bottles of beers opened. The driver who tried to run away assaulted the officers but the officers managed to apprehend him. He was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, failing to comply with a lawful Instruction, assaulting an officer, reckless and negligent driving and resisting arrest. The 30-year-old suspect was detained at Delft SAPS.
Traffic Service
During weekly patrols officers arrested 56 suspects, impounded 21 vehicles, 82 cell phones and issued 32 646 fines.
On Sunday, 1 August 2021 officers from the Ghost Squad stopped a suspicious vehicle in Stellenbosch and Main Roads, Delft with two male occupants and discovered dagga inside the vehicle. The suspects were arrested for possession of, and dealing in dagga. The suspects were taken to Delft SAPS.
‘We will intensify our fight against crime and assist the South African Police Service to get the criminals off the street. As I said before, arresting suspects and opening criminal cases is the first hurdle in crime prevention. The second important part is a court case and prosecution. It’s time for the criminal justice system to improve efficiency and increase successful convictions, added Alderman Smith.