‘Wine and dine’ bust caps another busy week of enforcement
08 June 2026
What started out as drinking in public turned into a sizeable crayfish bust for Law Enforcement officers – the suspect was one of at least 406 arrests made by City enforcement agencies in the past week.
On Sunday, 7 June 2026, Law Enforcement officers attached to the Marine Unit were on patrol in the Hout Bay and Wynberg area when they noticed people drinking in a parking area near Victoria Hospital.
Officers searched a white Mitsubishi and found 1 848 West Coast Rock Lobster tails in the vehicle as well as R17 600 in cash. The suspect, a 69-year-old Hout Bay resident, was arrested and detained at Wynberg SAPS.
‘This incident highlights the audacity of so many lawbreakers in our city who remain convinced that they will not be caught. How else does one explain openly breaking the law by consuming alcohol in public, knowing that you are in possession of contraband? This was a very good bust which our Law Enforcement officers can be incredibly proud of, but so too the incident in Diep River where Metro Police officers on routine patrol recovered several firearms.
‘I call on the police to investigate the matter to the full extent of the law and to secure a conviction for the possession of illegal firearms. The SAPS and NPA need to break this cycle of suspects arrested for illegal firearms walking free. We will never win this war by constantly catching and releasing criminals. They need to be convicted,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
During weekly enforcement patrols, Law Enforcement Officers made 199 arrests and issued 10 797 notices.
In the early hours of Friday, 5 June, LEAP officers in Delft arrested a 34-year-old suspect for possession of an unlicenced firearm and 11 live rounds of ammunition.
The following evening, their Metro Police counterparts recovered two firearms and an imitation firearm during a routine stop in Main Road, Diep River.
Officers stopped a white Toyota Quantum occupied by the driver and two passengers. While interviewing the occupants, officers noticed a firearm between the front seats. They requested the occupants to get out of the vehicle, and conducted further searches. In the process, they recovered an extended magazine, a second firearm, the imitation firearm and 29 live rounds of ammunition.
The suspects, aged between 36 and 38, were handed over to Diep River SAPS for further investigation.
In general, enforcement efforts over the past week, Metro Police officers made 166 arrests and issued 5 845 notices.
Traffic Officers recorded 41 arrests, of which 34 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, four for reckless/negligent driving and three for other offences. They also issued 1 764 warrants of arrest and impounded 219 public transport vehicles.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 439 calls for assistance this past weekend. Of the calls received, 87 were physical assault related cases, 35 domestic violence related cases and 43 pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.
The public is reminded to report emergencies or any suspicious and/or criminal activities by calling the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 OR logging by-law and traffic related complaints using the Safety and Security add on to the City App.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
