Gqeberha: 7 May 2023 - The Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene was in the Nelson Mandela Bay District last night, 6/05, leading her foot soldiers in operations in hotspot crime areas. Police officers from other policing districts in the Eastern Cape as well NMB traffic and metro police formed part of the special operations under the banner of 'Operation Vhutu Hawe'. The operations focused on drunken driving, illegal taverns and shebeens, proliferation of firearms and stolen goods in Gelvandale, Bethelsdorp, New Brighton, Kwazakele and Kwanobuhle respectively.
Road Traffic Act fines totalling R34 000 were issued at a roadblock in Stanford Road in Gelvandale. Several stop and searches were conducted at various locations in Gqeberha and Kwanobuhle.
A total of 22 taverns were visited to check on compliance after which 3 were closed and the alcohol confiscated for non-compliance. Police also confiscated 286 litres of alcohol and 1282 litres of home brewed concoctions. Fines totalling R36 000 were issued where illegal electrical connections were found and the connections disconnected.
Eleven(11) persons were arrested of which 6 were for drug related crimes and 5 for liquor related incidents (3 for illegal selling of alcohol and 2 for drunken driving.
Lt Gen Mene has hailed the operation as a success stating that the metro was flooded with law enforcement and the proactive approach has made an impact. ‘More boots on the ground re-enforces police visibility and limits the space for any form of criminality and deters criminals from flouting the law. Police were out in their numbers conducting patrols, stop and search operations, cordon and searches and roadblocks. They also conducted compliance inspections and shut down establishments operating outside the law. There was an impact in our focus areas where alcohol consumption is high especially on weekends,’ added Lt Gen Mene.