The City’s Metro Police and Traffic Service Departments arrested 34 suspects, impounded 21 vehicles and issued close to 30 400 fines. Patrols conducted by Metro Police officers netted suspects for various crimes including possession of drugs and stolen property, resisting arrest, fraud and domestic violence. Law Enforcement also assisted with the protection of public land and property against ongoing land invasions.
‘The City’s enforcement patrols prove our crime prevention initiatives are effective and we will continue with our efforts to serve and protect the residents of Cape Town. Arresting suspects is only the first step towards successful conviction. When we find that we arrest suspects who are out on parole committing the same crime it indicates that the criminal justice system is weakening and should be improved to ensure successful prosecution and conviction for known criminals at the very least,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Officers made a breakthrough in the recent theft of batteries from traffic signals. On Sunday, 6 September 2020, Metro Police officers confronted a suspect loading a battery into a minibus near the Kommetjie Road Fire Station, Masiphumulele, who claimed he worked for Syntel and they were replacing the batteries for maintenance.
Upon further investigation, the suspect could not produce any documentation, and the minibus drove off without warning. Officers pursued the vehicle and the driver surrendered and turned back. On inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered six Black Vision, Valve Regulated Rechargeable Batteries valued at R16 800.00. The four suspects aged between 33 and 39 were arrested for theft and detained at Ocean View SAPS. The batteries were stolen from signalised intersections equipped with uninterrupted power supply.
During a crime prevention patrol in Nagtegal street, Macassar, Metro Police officers arrested a 25-year-old suspect for the possession of 45 dagga cigarettes and one plastic packet containing loose dagga. The suspect was detained at Macassar SAPS.
Additional patrols in the same area led officers to a suspicious vehicle with three occupants parked in front of a well-known drug outlet. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found two imitation firearms, 30 stoppe dagga and two Mandrax tablets. All three suspects aged 23, 27 and 37 were arrested for drug possession.
While on patrol in Stock Road, Philippi, Metro Police officers pulled over a Mazda sedan with two occupants for running a red light and not displaying a back number plate. Ownership of the vehicle was tested via the E-Natis system which confirmed that it was a stolen vehicle. The two suspects were arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and detained at Philippi East SAPS. It later emerged that the two suspects were out on parole for the same offence.
The City’s Law Enforcement and Metro Police officers also assisted with several land protection operations during the weekend, where SAPS indicated that they were not available to assist on the weekend and that the City should leave it for a weekday. The City cannot allow the further loss of public land due to a lack of cooperation from SAPS since it would result in more land earmarked for services, housing projects and community facilities, among others, being unlawfully occupied and ultimately lost indefinitely. The City is determined to continue to protect public land and had to do so independently this weekend. Law Enforcement officers are faced with land protection challenges in the hotspot areas of Delft, Kraaifontein and Table View. Illegal structures are being built on a continued basis and the assistance of SAPS is paramount in the protection of land and public safety. The City will carry on taking a stand against the orchestrated unlawful occupations occurring in the metro and stand up for our law abiding residents and communities who are severely impacted by the unlawful occupation of land.
‘The City’s enforcement efforts in the protection of public and private land will be optimised with greater efficiency when all spheres of government commit to working together to serve and protect the residents of Cape Town as is our job as a holistic government. However, as long as the absence of SAPS continues to plague the enforcement environment from meaningful protection of land, residents and the City of Cape Town will continue to fall victim to the unlawful occupation of land. Our Law Enforcement, Traffic and Metro Police Departments work together with an integrated approach to crime prevention in the interest of public safety. The departments will continue with enforcement efforts and render assistance to SAPS where and when needed,’ said Alderman JP Smith.