Murder suspects among over 800 arrested in Gauteng over long weekend
Seven firearms were recovered during the police blitz and will be subjected to ballistic testing to establish possible links to other crimes.
PRETORIA, March 23 (ANA) – Three suspects wanted by South African police for murder were among 847 people arrested over the Human Rights Day long weekend which stretched into Monday, in different parts of Gauteng province.
The three were sought in connection with three murders that occurred at the Phumusiwe informal settlement. They were arrested on Saturday in Tembisa after police received a tip-off, Gauteng spokesman for the South African Police Service Captain Kay Makhubele said.
The trio was found in possession of three firearms, two of which were unlicenced.
“In a separate incident in Tshwane, crime intelligence followed information of an alleged habitual robber and upon arrival at the given address, police found the suspect in possession of drugs including dagga, and an unlicensed firearm. The suspect will be profiled to check if he could be linked to other crimes,” said Makhubele.
Elsewhere, six suspects were arrested on Saturday evening near Zandspruit informal settlement after police stopped and searched a Hyundai H100 panel van. The driver and one passenger allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled. Three unlicensed firearms and suspected stolen property were seized and the vehicle was impounded.
In another incident, a Gauteng woman was arrested after she allegedly tried to bribe police officers who had arrested her father for the possession of illegal cigarettes.
“(The) father and daughter were arrested in De Deur. The father who was driving a Mazda was found in possession of illicit cigarettes and the daughter came to the police station and allegedly tried to bribe the police,” said Makhubele.
In Dobsonville, Soweto, police arrested 29 drunk driving suspects at a road block and impounded a suspected stolen vehicle, while detectives arrested over 140 suspects wanted for various other serious and violent crimes.
Almost 400 people were arrested in the Tshwane and Ekurhuleni municipalities for various offences including driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“Seven firearms were recovered during the operations and these will be subjected to ballistic testing to establish possible linkage to other crimes,” said Makhubele.
He said those arrested were expected to appear before different courts across Gauteng in due course.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa
