The City of Cape Town’s enforcement operations over the past week resulted in 783 arrests that included hundreds of warrant dodgers; motorists caught driving under the influence; and a smash and grab suspect arrested with the help of a taxi driver.
Hundreds of warrant dodgers received a reality check this past week, when they were arrested as part of Operation Reclaim – a dedicated enforcement initiative designed to track down motorists with outstanding warrants.
Officers executed 2 750 warrants and arrested 610 suspects – 292 of whom were released on a warning.
‘Warrant evaders owe the City millions in unpaid traffic fines and we’ve dedicated resources to tracking them down and recouping the fine income but, more importantly, to address the culture of lawlessness that so many individuals subscribe to. My advice to motorists with warrants or outstanding fines is to get their house in order, before “Janu-worry” takes on a whole new meaning from behind bars,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.
Elsewhere, Traffic Services arrested 89 suspects and issued 1 525 fines for various offences. Of those arrested, 79 were caught driving under the influence and seven were charged with reckless and negligent driving. Among those arrested for drunk driving were eight taxi drivers who were all stopped within an hour of a roadblock being set up on the Cape Town station deck. All of the drivers were transporting passengers at the time.
The Metro Police Department made 62 arrests, including 11 for possession of drugs, 33 for drunk driving, three for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and one for a smash-and-grab attempt on the N2. On Sunday 14 January 2018, just before 13:00, officers on patrol along the N2 were alerted to the incident in the vicinity of Baden Powell Drive by a taxi driver who also pointed out the suspect who was running away across a field. The officers gave chase and were assisted by an off-duty detective. They arrested a 45-year-old suspect and recovered the motorist’s handbag. The suspect was detained at Macassar SAPS.
‘This is a good example of how crime fighting is a collective effort. I commend the taxi driver who alerted our officers to the incident. His timely response resulted in the arrest of the suspect and the return of the victim’s belongings,’ added Alderman Smith.
The Law Enforcement Department made 22 arrests and issued 2 161 fines in the last week. By Thursday 11 January 2018, alcohol confiscation totals from beaches and other public areas stood at 11 926 bottles, totalling 8 356 litres.
The City appeals to the public to remain vigilant when visiting beaches and other public attractions as heat wave conditions have been forecast for tomorrow, Tuesday 16 January 2018. This is likely to increase visitor numbers to the beaches, given that it’s the final day of the school holidays. City staff will be on duty to ensure public safety, but we remind everyone that this is a shared responsibility.