Two men were arrested for being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition during crime prevention operations held in Rocklands and Tafelsig between Friday November 4 and Sunday November 6.
A 31-year-old man was arrested for being in possession of a Norinco 9mm pistol with nine live rounds of ammunition in Hamerkop Street in Rocklands on Saturday November 5 and the following day, Sunday November 6, a 27-year-old man was arrested for being in possession a 9mm pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition inside a vehicle in Hangklip Street in Tafelsig. The latter arrest was the result of a tip-off to which the Provincial Reaction Unit responded.
In an unrelated incident, members of Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention unit arrested a 24-year-old man for possession of 58 small packets of dagga and another two parcels of dagga in Gazelle Street in Eastridge.
All three men will appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on charges relating to possession of prohibited firearms, ammunition and drugs.
Mitchell’s Plain SAPS held a “back to basics festive season” cluster operation on Wednesday November 2, from 8am to 4pm, focusing on Rocklands and Tafelsig.
The role players included Mitchell’s Plain visible policing unit members from stations in the cluster, which includes Athlone, Grassy Park, Steenberg, Lansdowne, Lentegeur and Philippi police stations.
During the operation, 26 houses alleged to be linked to gangs were searched and vehicle checkpoints were held. According to police, 11 fines totalling R14 500 were issued for traffic violations such as driving without a licence, or driving an unlicensed vehicle.
Mitchell’s Plain police spokesperson Captain Ian Williams said three arrests were made during the operation.
Captain Williams added that 289 people had been searched and 107 checked for profiling, 223 vehicles were stopped and 105 were searched during the operation.
Two men, aged 23 and 27 were arrested for possession of drugs in Winterhoek Street in Tafelsig and Fiat Close in Rocklands.
Mitchell’s Plain cluster commander Major General Gregory Goss thanked all involved in making the arrests.
“Police are working around the clock to prevent and combat crime, building stronger relationships and partnering with the community in Mitchell’s Plain.
“These successes are a reflection of the good co-operation that exists between the community and the police. We want to thank all community structures of Mitchell’s Plain who joined the police in combating crime,” he said.