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A large number of dugs were also seized over the Easter Weekend, including dagga, Mandrax powder and nyaope. Photo: Limpopo SAPS.

Police continue to show they are serious about crime

Date: 08 April 2021 By: Andries van Zyl

The Limpopo police continue to show they are serious about fighting crime in die province with the arrest of 1 298 suspect in several joint operations over the Easter Weekend. The suspects were arrested for a vast range of crimes, including serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, armed robberies, and rape.

During the operations, which comprised roadblocks, stop and searches, tracing of wanted suspects and intensive patrols, the police seized various items, including 14 illegal firearms and ammunition, eight suspected stolen or hijacked motor vehicles, six cell phones, four TVs, a large number of illegal cigarettes, 104 dangerous weapons (including 79 knives), drugs, liquor sold illegally and three Vodacom tower batteries valued at R161 000 stolen in the Modimolle area. In addition, 20 shebeens were closed and 169 suspects were arrested for contravention of the Disaster Management Act, while 2 454 fines were issued for the contravention of the Road Traffic Act.

Closer to home, police in the Bandelierkop area received a tip-off on 2 April about suspected ATM bombers driving on the N1 towards Louis Trichardt. The authorities reacted swiftly and spotted the suspects’ bakkie where it was parked at the fuel station at Bandelierkop. “They tactically surrounded the area and the garage while others approached the vehicle. They found two suspects in the vehicle, and the suspects pointed out other three suspects who were inside the garage store. Other teams of police reacted and everyone in the garage was commanded to comply with police instructions, and the other three suspects were also arrested,” said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe in a press statement. The bakkie the suspects were travelling in was seized and all five suspects were positively linked to an attempted ATM bombing at Lebowakgomo last month.

Provincial police commissioner Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba warmly welcomed the arrests and police successes. “These successes are a manifestation that our members are truly dedicated to their duties of keeping the citizens of Limpopo safe at all times,” said Ledwaba.

The arrested suspects have started appearing before different magistrate’s courts on various charges throughout the province. The origin of the recovered items during these operations will be determined through the police’s ongoing investigations.

 

 
 
 

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Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

 
 

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