A traffic officer was on his way home on Spine Road in Khayelitsha just after midnight, when a man ran up to him to report that he had just been hijacked.

The vehicle was still in the road with two suspects inside trying to get it started.

When the officer approached, the suspects tried to run, but the officer pinned down one of the suspects and arrested him. The second managed to get away.

In addition, traffic officers also arrested two drivers from the Top 100 list. 

The first motorist was arrested on Friday, 27 September, in Turfhall Road, Kenwyn when he was stopped during a warrant operation. 

He had 12 warrants outstanding valued at R52 600.

The second driver was arrested on Saturday, 28 September in Athlone when the roadblock unit was conducting roaming warrant checks. He had 31 outstanding warrants valued at R173 950.

‘I commend our traffic officer going beyond the call of duty – his quick response has resulted in a criminal behind bars, and a vehicle back with its rightful owner. Vehicle hijacking is worrying as it often is accompanied by other crimes, which includes the vehicles being used in more felonies. I want to encourage drivers to be aware of their surroundings and to keep emergency numbers on speed dial. It is more than just a job to our dedicated men and women in uniform, and this should serve as a warning to those who intend on breaking the law. Our officers will continue to arrest criminals who pose a threat to the safety and security of others,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Traffic officers recorded 23 249 speeding offences, issued 23 922 fines for various traffic violations, executed 1 566 warrants of arrest and impounded 198 public transport vehicles.

Of their 77 arrests, 62 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, three for reckless driving and 12 for other transgressions.

Law Enforcement officers arrested 26 people, of which seven were criminals caught in the act of cable theft.

On Friday, 27 September, officers from the Metal Theft Unit, were busy with operations in Blackheath when they arrested three suspects during separate incidents. 

One suspect was found to be in possession of stolen copper in a bag, while the other two suspects were arrested for being in possession of stolen City of Cape Town essential infrastructure. 

They were detained at Mfuleni SAPS.

On Wednesday, 25 September, while on patrol in Belhar, officers received a complaint from the control room about suspects stealing cables close to Belhar Primary School. 

The officers responded immediately and caught three suspects in the act with a four meter underground streetlight copper cable that was cut off, a spade, two hacksaws and a hacksaw blade.

The three suspects aged 24, 37 and 38 was arrested under the Criminal Matters amendment Act 18 of 2015 and detained at Belhar SAPS. 

The seventh person was arrested on Saturday, 21 September  when officers on patrol arrested a suspect with the aid of a drone. Two men were busy digging a trench and damaging streetlight infrastructure on Stellenbosch Arterial. The officers arrested one person, while a second suspect managed to evade arrest.

The PECC recorded 1 226 calls this weekend, of which 114 were assault cases, 61 vehicle accidents and 50 domestic violence reports.

Officers arrested 40 people, issued 3 285 fines and confiscated a variety of drugs including dagga, mandrax and heroine.  

Residents are reminded to report any criminal activity or emergency by contacting the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.