POTCHEFSTROOM: 21 November 2023 - On Friday, 17 November 2023, during the release of the quarter two crime statistics, Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, said Operation Shanela; which is on its sixth month running, is effective and continuous to be altered and guided by crime pattern analysis.
The provincial Safer Festive Season operations conducted from Monday, 13 to Sunday, 19 November 2023, yielded successes when 822 suspects were arrested for numerous crimes. Police deployments were strengthened by Traffic police, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Health, private security companies and the Community in Blue through the Community Police Forum (CPF).
23 arrests were made for drug related offences, 24 for dealing in liquor, 37 for driving under the influence of liquor and 3 for possession of firearms. One suspect was also arrested for illicit mining. During the operations, 11 cellular phones, five firearms with ammunition, four vehicles, six dangerous weapons, a variety of drugs and precious metals, including 3000kg of copper cables, were confiscated. 69 suspected undocumented persons were handed over to the Department of Home Affairs for further processing.
A total of 58 premises, 2 345 persons and 1 727 vehicles were searched. 30 Tracking operations were conducted by Detectives to trace known suspects. Moreover, 15 roadblocks were held.
In a case reported in Jouberton, on Friday, 17 November 2023, intelligence received led to the execution of a search and seizure warrant by Potchefstroom K9 at a house in Extension 13. During the operation, police found an unlicensed firearm and 51 ammunition. Lekaota Johannes Monkhe (40) was immediately arrested and appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on Monday, 20 November 2023. He was granted R1000 bail and the case remanded to Thursday, 1 February 2024. As part of his bail conditions, Monkhe must report to the Jouberton police station twice a week.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lt Gen Sello Kwena, said the police will through decisive action and community involvement, continue to combat crime and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.