The SA Police Service in Gauteng rounded up more than 1 600 crime suspects, including a wanted member of the infamous “Boko Haram” gang at the weekend.
The police said the arrested gang member had been on the list of “Gauteng’s most wanted suspects”.
Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the police arrested 1 655 suspects in Gauteng at the weekend.
The wanted Boko Haram gang member, who was among those arrested, had been on the run after the police caught up with his accomplices.
Some gang members have already appeared in court, where they were convicted and sentenced.
“The suspect has been terrorising the community of Mamelodi in the past years and was wanted by the police for crimes that include extortion and aggravated robberies,” said Lieutenant Colonel Masondo.
The accused Boko Haram was likely to appear before Mamelodi Magistrates Court on Monday, 1 August 2022.
Other suspects were arrested for offences that included murder, possession of an unlicensed firearms, dealing in drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol.
The police also arrested people suspected of being undocumented foreign nationals.
Lieutenant Colonel Masondo said SAPS senior management in Gauteng were on the ground this past weekend, leading integrated crime prevention operations and tracing wanted suspects.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, and his deputies led Operation O Kae Molao in Johannesburg District, particularly Eldorado Park and Diepkloof, where more than 495 suspects were arrested.
More than 486 suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni District for crimes ranging from murder, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, fraud and robbery.
“Intelligence-driven operations were conducted in Tshwane, where 380 suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle, possession of suspected stolen property, malicious damage to property, car hijacking, fraud and attempted murder,” said Lieutenant Colonel Masondo.
“Illegal miners who are suspected to be behind various crimes in the West Rand District are among 174 suspects who were arrested in the district.
“Other suspects were arrested for crimes that include murder, house robbery, malicious damage to property and tampering with essential infrastructure.”
Lieutenant Colonel Masondo said more than 120 suspects were arrested in Sedibeng District for rape, murder, possession of drugs and malicious property damage.
The suspects were expected to appear before various Magistrate Courts from Monday.
