Over the Easter period, 1,419 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. (Photo: SAPS)
Over the Easter week, the police arrested 15,840 suspects in South Africa for crimes.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, police spokesperson, says the arrests followed several police actions during the Easter weekend to fight crime and ensure public safety. During this time, illegal firearms were seized, and 532 illegal taverns and shebeens were closed.
The majority of arrests took place in the Western Cape, where 737 people were apprehended. In KwaZulu-Natal, 341 arrests were made.
Mathe says several roadblocks, visibility patrols and targeted crime prevention operations were led by various law enforcement parties in the police.
She says 132 illegal and unlicensed firearms were seized, as well as 1,097 rounds of ammunition. In KwaZulu-Natal, the majority of handguns (42) were seized.
The police closed 532 illegal taverns and shebeens. (Photo: SAPS)
A total of 747 dangerous weapons, including knives, were confiscated. “The seizures are a critical step in our ongoing fight against violent crime.”
Mathe says the regulation of alcohol sales and illegal taverns is one of the critical areas on which the police continue to focus and over the past week alone, 532 illegal taverns and shebeens have been closed due to non-compliance with the Liquor Act.
She says 773 of those who were caught without a valid liquor license were also arrested. The majority of those without liquor licenses were arrested in KZN (299) and Mpumalanga, with 209 suspects apprehended.
According to Mathe, law enforcement authorities are taking a firm stand by closing down illegal taverns and arresting those who sell liquor illegally in areas where crime thrives.
Most arrests were in the Western Cape. (Photo: SAPS)
During the operations, 1,419 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. “Most drunk drivers were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal with 588, followed by Mpumalanga (199), and the Eastern Cape with 197 arrests.”
Other arrests include 1,342 for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm; 146 for murder; 189 for rape; 171 for burglaries and 334 for drug trafficking.