Police in Gauteng on Sunday said during the weekend more than 1 500 crime suspects were arrested and 14 illegal guns and bullets were recovered.
Giving details of the arrests Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said: “Most of the suspects were arrested during the tracing of wanted suspects and operations that include stop and searches in various parts of the province”.
Lieutenant Masondo added: “Police intelligence observations during routine patrols and tip-offs from the community led to the discovery of most unlicensed firearms.
“More than 460 people were arrested in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni District, where the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, led a weekend integrated Operation O Kae Molao.”
The operations, which included roadblocks and “stop and searches” resulted in arrests of suspects wanted for murder, robbery, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and tampering with essential infrastructure.
More than 500 suspects were arrested in Tshwane District.
“Amongst those arrested, 200 were nabbed during the tracing of wanted suspects by the detective teams,” said Lieutenant Masondo.
In that operation, eight vehicles reported stolen or hijacked were recovered, and four unlicensed firearms were seized.
Over 380 crime suspects were arrested in Johannesburg District as integrated law enforcement agencies.
Joint intelligence-driven operations in Sedibeng and West Rand Districts led to the arrests of more than 190 suspects.
“The arrested suspects will appear before various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng from Monday while others were released after paying admission of guilt fines,” said Lieutenant Masondo.
