A 32-year old man was arrested on Saturday 25 July 2020 in Kwa Thema, Ekurhuleni for discharging a firearm in a municipal area as the suspect allegedly fired shots during a funeral procession. Police seized the suspect’s firearm which will be subjected to ballistic testing to establish possible linkage to previous crime.
At the same time, a member of the bereaved family was also arrested after police established that the number of mourners in attendance at the same funeral exceeded 50 in direct contravention of the Disaster Management lockdown regulations. This arrest came after numerous attempts by police to sensitise and caution the bereaved family to guard against contravening the regulations during the week and on the day of the funeral, were ignored.
Still in Ekurhuleni, two suspects were arrested in Brackendowns for selling liquor in contravention of the regulations, while police confiscated a large consignment of the liquor from the premises.
These arrests brought to over 150 suspects arrested in Ekurhuleni, some of whom were also arrested for contravention of Disaster Management Act, and others for crimes that include possession of unlicensed firearm, possession of drugs, dealing in dagga, possession of police uniform and assault.
Meanwhile, joint weekend operations in the West Rand conducted in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)`, Gauteng Traffic and other law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of 110 suspects. The operations focused on stop and searches, vehicle check points, rural safety and enforcement of lockdown regulations. Suspects were arrested for various serious and violent crimes, sexual offences, and domestic violence related charges. Other suspects were caught and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession and dealing in dagga, and contravention of the lockdown regulations.
More than 200 suspects aged between 21 and 65 were arrested in Tshwane during the weekend operations. The suspects were arrested for similar offences including possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, public drinking and possession of illicit cigarettes.
Moving to operations in Sedibeng, 78 suspects were apprehended for varying crimes and contraventions.
As the blitz operations continue to gain momentum across all districts, police in the Johannesburg District saw more than 80 suspects arrested during operations conducted in Hillbrow, Yeoville, and Johannesburg West. Here too, suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, armed robbery, possession of stolen property, possession of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearm, fraud, attempted murder and contravention of Disaster Management Act, possession of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, attempted business robbery, assault and contravention of Disaster Management Act.
All 600 and more arrested suspects are expected to appear in respective magistrate courts across Gauteng in due course.