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Illegal street racers stopped in their tracks

The operation in Bellville South resulted in seven arrests, including two drivers who were intercepted while taking part in an illegal street race. They were among 374 arrests made by the City’s enforcement agencies in the past week.

The Traffic Service’s Ghost and Random Breath Testing Units disrupted an illegal gathering in Bellville South last night – intercepting two racing motorists who were arrested for reckless and negligent driving.Five other motorists were arrested for driving under the influence as a crowd of about 500 people dispersed following the officers’ arrival.Officers also patrolled another known hotspot on Jakes Gerwel Drive in Athlone, but the area was quiet.‘Illegal street racing continues to feature as one of the many challenges that our staff have to deal with. I want to commend the officers for their swift action in breaking up this gathering, but the reality is that these illegal actions are commonplace and a source of frustration and danger to surrounding communities and other road users. The City has, over time worked to create safe, legal spaces for this activity, but still it persists and that is why we are beefing up the Traffic by-law to impound vehicles for offences like reckless and negligent driving,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith. In general operations in the past week, Traffic Officers recorded 60 arrests - 52 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, five for reckless and negligent driving and three for other offences. Officers also recorded 65 603 transgressions, impounded 142 public transport vehicles and executed 645 warrants of arrest. Metro Police Officers made 110 arrests and issued 5 367 traffic and by-law fines.On Wednesday, 29 April, a CCTV operator spotted a suspect handling a firearm and placing it in a backpack. Metro Police officers were dispatched to investigate and on searching the suspect, they recovered an imitation firearm. The 26-year-old was detained at Grassy Park SAPS. On the same day, officers recovered another imitation firearm, one live round of ammunition and a small amount of mandrax and cocaine after responding to reports of shots fired in Vlei Road in Belgravia. A 34-year-old male was arrested and detained at Athlone SAPS.The Anti-Hijacking Unit, meanwhile, recovered at least six vehicles over the long weekend. Two stolen vehicles were found stripped in an informal settlement in Philippi; a third stolen vehicle was recovered along Edinburgh Drive in Bishop’s Court and three others that had been hijacked in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni. Law Enforcement Officers made 204 arrests and issued 8 685 notices during weekly operations. LEAP officers recovered two firearms during their weekly operations – in Manenberg, a 37-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, 29 April for the possession of a prohibited firearm.On Saturday, 2 May, officers in Gugulethu arrested a 28-year-old for the possession of a prohibited firearm and 14 rounds of ammunition.The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 638 calls for assistance this past weekend. Of the calls received, 86 were physical assault related cases, 39 domestic violence cases, 224 noise nuisance complaints and 18 complaints about drinking and fighting in public. Call agents also dispatched assistance to 48 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents. End

2026-05-03T22:00:00Z

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