Weekly enforcement wrap: 315 arrests and 73 500+ fines issued

17 April 2023

The City’s Traffic Service, Metro Police and Law Enforcement Departments arrested 315 suspects, including 65 for driving under the influence of alcohol, during weekly enforcement operations. Officers also issued 73 539 fines. The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 741 incidents over the weekend, with a marked drop in interpersonal violence cases and motor vehicle accidents. 

During general enforcement patrols  in the past week, Metro Police officers arrested 47 suspects, including three for driving under the influence.

Other arrests included contact, property, commercial, drug and firearm-related offences. Officers also issued 3 796 fines.

In one of the latest successes on Sunday evening, 16 April 2023, officers attached to the Gang and Drug Task Team were tipped off about drug dealing and illegal firearms being kept at a house in Hanover Park. 

On arrival, officers noticed a suspect in front of the premises, who discarded a plastic bag as he saw them approaching.

They conducted a search and recovered a zip gun and 38 units of unga in his possession. The 27-year-old was detained at Philippi SAPS.

Their Law Enforcement counterparts made 200 arrests and issued 3 653 fines.

'We continue to be faced with massive challenges in the fight against crime, but what is very encouraging is how many of our successes can be attributed to information shared by members of the public. We talk often about shared responsibility, and public safety is definitely the one area where a partnership between communities and the enforcement agencies is key. As we continue to act on these tips, and get the results, we hope that it will encourage others to come forward too and help us address crime in their areas,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

On the roads, Cape Town Traffic officers issued 66 090 fines and arrested 68 suspects - 62 for driving under the influence of alcohol and six for reckless and negligent driving. Officers also executed 1 133 warrants of arrest and impounded 177 public transport vehicles.  

PUBLIC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTRE (PECC)

The PECC recorded 1 741 incidents over the weekend.

There were noticeable reductions in the number of assault cases, with 64 recorded compared to 191 during the same 48-hour window the previous weekend, 20 domestic violence incidents (28 previously), and 36 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents, compared to 57 the previous weekend.

'Any incident of interpersonal violence is one too many, but our reality is far different. Based on the statistics, this was one of the quietest weekends we have experienced in some time, and we certainly welcome it. Unfortunately, our trends do show that the rate of trauma cases in our city, and many other places, tends to fluctuate and pick up particularly around the end of a month, or the start of a new month,' added Alderman Smith.

Residents are reminded to phone 021 480 77 00 from a cell phone and 107 from a landline to report an emergency or criminal activity.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office