Law Enforcement officers recover illegal firearms
23 November 2020
The confiscations, by the officers deployed as part of the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), were among a raft of enforcement successes this past week.
LEAP officers who were out on patrol in the Gugulethu area on Saturday, 21 November 2020, conducted a stop and search of three suspicious looking males. One suspect ran away, and during the chase, threw an item away that was later found to be an illegal firearm. The suspect was apprehended.
On the same day, officers patrolling Ncewula street, Brown's Farm, Philippi noticed a silver Polo Vivo with three males making a U-turn and tried to drive away when they saw the officers approaching. Officers chased down the suspects who collided with another vehicle and managed to arrest two suspects. An illegal firearm and ammunition were recovered.
‘The alert and swift reaction by LEAP officers is just another example of how officers add value to our crime prevention efforts in assisting our enforcement agencies as well as the South African Police Service. Our integrated approach in combatting crime definitely contribute towards community safety. LEAP officers patrolling communities also increase visibility which seems to be a deterrent for possible criminal activity. It is often the case that illegal firearms are used in other more serious criminal activities and or gang related violence. We are glad that our officers managed to recover the firearms,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
TRAFFIC SERVICE
The City of Cape Town's Traffic Service arrested 140 suspects, impounded 246 vehicles and 157 cell phones and issued 74 235 fines during the past week. Illegal street racing seems to be on the increase week-on-week with 100 motorists arrested for reckless and negligent driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol and other related offences.
On Sunday, 22 November 2020, a Traffic Service Ghost Squad officer pulled over a scooter while on patrol in the Fish Hoek area. The driver and passenger of the scooter acted nervously and the officer requested that the scooter seat be removed. A bag with 40 shucked abalone were found under the seat. The suspects were arrested and Sea Fisheries were requested to assist in the investigation. The suspects admitted to being runners who receive the abalone from divers who operate in the Soetwater and Simon’s Town areas.
METRO POLICE
The Metro Police department made 55 arrests, which included 19 arrests for the possession of drugs. Officers also issued more than 3 500 traffic related fines as well as 128 by-law fines.
Drugs confiscated by officers included:
FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service logged at least three incidents this past weekend, where staff were attacked. Fire Service vehicles were stoned and damaged by protesters in Brackenfell on Friday, 20 November 2020.
On Saturday morning, 21 November 2020 the fire crew from Mfuleni was robbed of their personal belongings at gunpoint after being ambushed. They responded to a fire, but it turned out to be a hoax call.
Sunday, 22 November 2020, saw two crew members threatened with a panga in Philippi, Kosovo informal settlement, when they were attending to informal structures alight.
‘The attack on Fire Service officers and equipment is ironic as it is often the same people, or members of the community, who deliberately vandalise vehicles and attacking officers only to later call on assistance when there is a fire in the community. Vandalising and destroying Fire Service vehicles and targeting staff is not only a criminal offence, but also deprives community members of emergency services,’ said Alderman Smith.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
