Edited by Bev Mortimer – Eastern Cape – In major ‘Safer Festive Season Operations’ in Sarah Baartman District’s seven municipalities, the SAPS arrested or fined 272 people for crimes ranging from murder to drug dealing and traffic fines .
During the operations and raids, which took place simultaneously and formally in hot-spot areas and at several drug posts in the different local municipalities, scrap metals valued at more than R164 000 were confiscated, and six spaza shops were fined for non-compliance with several municipal by-laws.
The operations occurred between 6-21 November in Makana, Kouga, Kougkamma, Sundays River Valley, Dr Beyers Naude, Blue Crane Route and Ndlambe. All the events and operations were characterised by a show of force and conducted under the theme ‘Combating Crime through Decisive Police Action and Robust Community Involvement’.
The last event launch held in Port Alfred was attended by the MEC for Community Safety, Honourable Xolile Nqatha, and included a community engagement at the Titi Jonas Multi-purpose Community Centre in Nemato (Port Alfred).
SBDM District Commissioner, Major General Zolani , praised those officers involved in the operations and raids, saying it took seven days for the combat forces “to flex their muscles, gauge a level of readiness and make their presence felt.”
Maj Gen Xawukahe also said that “the operational plans are going to squeeze the space for criminals to operate in our streets.’’ He added that relations have been established with other pertinent stakeholders, who are willing to augment the foot soldiers as ‘force multipliers’.
