Kimberley: 23 July 2023 : "Operation Shanela", the high density operation netted 161 arrests the past week.
Police actions were executed from Monday, 17 July 2023 to Sunday, 23 July 2023 and comprised of stop and searches, vehicle checkpoints, cordon and searches, high visibility patrols, compliance inspections at liquor outlets, tracing operations by detectives, visits to businesses and second hands goods dealers.
Teams across the province conducted numerous actions which included 11 roadblocks, 36 VCP's , during which 1 981 vehicles and 4365 persons were searched and fines issued for contravention of the law. These actions were also enhanced by 1206 high visibility blue light and 1972 foot patrols throughout the Northern Cape province. A multitude of disruptive actions included 981 stop and searches, cordon and searches at taxi ranks, visibility in shopping malls and complexes and other hotspot areas. In total 3109 compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, shebeens, taverns, liquor outlets, firearm dealers, farms and informal businesses.
Outstanding successes were achieved on Monday, 17 July 2023 when the police followed up on information and found a substantial amount of copper cable stashed next to a power station in Peter Mokaba Street in Kagisho in Galeshewe while another male was also arrested with copper worth R1000 in the Kimberley CBD.
The Colesburg SAPS members confiscated a large amount of diesel concealed in containers on a Toyota bakkie and the vehicle owner could not account for the goods. The Hopetown police also followed up on information and confiscated a substantial amount of Tik, Mandrax and Dagga while another team seized a large amount of dagga in Galeshewe. The SAPS all over the province made routine visits at ATM's, Business premises, National Key Points, Post Offices and tuckshops.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola reiterated that the SAPS members and external stakeholders will continue with the high density crime prevention and disruptive actions unabatedly to ensure that we squeeze the space for criminals to operate.