The City’s three enforcement services arrested 179 suspects in the past week. They issued 73 147 fines and impounded various items, including 166 vehicles, 202 cellphones, drugs, ammunition and alcohol.
TRAFFIC SERVICE
Cape Town Traffic made 100 arrests – 35 of the suspects were collared during illegal street racing operations in Bellville, Athlone, Ottery, Milnerton and the Atlantic Seaboard.
Nearly 70% of the overall arrest tally were on charges of drunk driving and reckless and negligent driving.
The remainder included arrests for attempted murder, assault, furnishing false information and trying to escape from custody.
Officers also impounded 166 vehicles, 202 cellphones and issued 66 092 fines.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The department arrested 35 suspects, 31 of those by officers deployed in terms of the Law Enforcement Advancement Programme.
Officers issued 4 201 fines and confiscated 520 units of alcohol.
On Thursday morning, LEAP officers on patrol in Hanover Park were approached by two members of the public who informed them of an incident at a house in Silica Walk.
Officers responded and requested access to the premises, where they found three men who had been badly assaulted.
They requested an ambulance, and then proceeded to search the premises.
Officers recovered:
- 109 mandrax tablets
- four packets of tik
- 256 bankies of dagga
- two vacuum compressed bags of dagga
- an onion bag full of dagga
- four packets of unga
- four bags of tik lollies
- R11 138 in cash
- Seven empty magazines
- 27 live rounds
- 62 9mm casings
Six suspects were arrested and detained at Philippi SAPS.
‘This is one of several successes achieved by our LEAP officers who have been deployed in Hanover Park for the past ten days, and is indicative of what is possible when you have boots on the ground on a sustained basis. Our policing resources are stretched at the best of times, so to have this dedicated deployment in a flashpoint area is extremely important. I also want to commend the members of the public who are taking it upon themselves to get involved in the fight against crime by passing along information which has good outcomes, like this particular incident,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
METRO POLICE
The Metro Police department made 44 arrests on a range of charges including possession of drugs, domestic violence, public violence and outstanding warrants of arrests.
They also issued 2 854 fines and confiscated alcohol, ammunition and drugs.
Three of those arrested were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, and were apprehended based on the observations of officers.
- On Sunday, 25 October 2020, Metro Police officers heading to work came across an overturned bakkie in Mitchells Plain. On investigation, they discovered that the driver was under the influence of liquor. The 30-year-old suspect was arrested and detained at Lentegeur SAPS.
- On Saturday, 24 October 2020, officers stopped a vehicle for swerving on the roadway on the N2 between the R44 and Kramat Road. The 39-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and detained at Macassar SAPS.
- On Friday, officers patrolling along Govan Mbeki Road noticed a silver Toyota Conquest driving recklessly and changing lanes without indicating. They managed to pull over the vehicle on the corner of Jan Smuts and Govan Mbeki Road. Upon interviewing the driver, the officers noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and that he reeked of alcohol. The 52-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence and detained at Lansdowne SAPS.
‘Just this morning, we witnessed a devastating motor vehicle accident with multiple fatalities. The City extends its heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who died. While the circumstances that led to the crash are still under investigation, it once again puts the spotlight on road safety. Operating a vehicle is a mammoth responsibility, and it requires that you have your wits about you at all times. Driving drunk like the suspects arrested by our Metro Police officers does not help. I also urge motorists to please check their vehicles regularly, not just the mechanical aspects, but also the tyre pressure and general condition of the vehicle. We are just weeks away from the festive season and likely increased traffic volumes, so I appeal to road users to do right by themselves and others,’ added Alderman Smith.