Police visibility ensures arrests of suspects for possession of unlicensed firearms and hijacking

Members attached to Operation Lockdown II posted at Khayelitsha arrested a 23-year-old suspect from Site B, Khayelitsha at around 18:30 on 09 May 2022 at Alliam Drive for possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle, possession of an imitation firearm (which was used to commit a crime), robbery with a firearm and attempted kidnapping

According to reports, the members were busy with stops and searches when they received information from a passer-by driver informing them about a hijacking in progress. They proceeded to the mentioned location and found the suspect busy trying to start the hijacked vehicle while in possession of a firearm on his waist. At the back of the canopy, members found a foreign national and his assistant locked up with crates of bread. On further investigations, it was found that the vehicle was hijacked at Khayelitsha earlier this month. The suspect will appear in court soon on the mentioned charges.

In an unrelated matter, on Monday 9 May 2022 at about 21:00, six males aged between 21 and 45 were arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, and drugs in Elsies River.

The males were traveling in a silver motor vehicle when they were arrested by Elsies River SAPS Crime Prevention Unit. The members deployed in the Elsies River area to combat gang violence and prevent crime were busy with visible patrols when they noticed the silver motor vehicle driving through a red traffic light on Fransie van Zyl Avenue. They pulled the vehicle over on conducting a search and found a firearm and ammunition in the vehicle. The serial number of the firearm has been removed. Three units of tik including R2001 cash were in the possession of the suspects.

On further investigation, it was found that the same vehicle was used in the commission of attempted murder within the Kensington area and the suspects are possibly wanted for attempted murder charges.

The six males will be appearing in court once they have been charged.