Everson Luhanga
Alex’s cops made a tough statement on Saturday night in an O Kae Molao operation.
Law enforcement across multiple departments, including SAPS, Home Affairs and Metro Police, made many arrests and numerous illegal shebeens were closed during the night.
Commissioner Mawela said they needed to control behaviour that could lead to super spreaders of Covid.
“We need to keep on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told the media.
“People should keep following the regulations that include wearing of masks and to avoid attending overcrowded events.”
He said Alex was a hotspot for crimes like car hijacking and robberies.
“While we were here, [there was] a suspect who had robbed a house and hijacked a car in Linksfield,” he said.
“The suspect drove into our road block and he was arrested with a firearm that he robbed from the victim.”
Among the high profile officials who attended the operation was the Gauteng provincial Police Commissioner Elias Mawela, MEC for public safety Faith Mazibuko and officials from the national department of police, provincial officials, and station commanders.
MEC for Public Safety Faith Mazibuko said: “We are not out of the woods when it comes to infections. It is the responsibility of everyone to make sure they are safe from the virus.”
Mazibuko kept reminding people who were stopped and searched to wear their masks.
The massive operation was not short of drama when a driver tried to race away in his car.
Officers gave chase and he and three passengers were stopped.
After midnight, a massive convoy headed to shebeens where police found people still partying.
In Swetla, police found a group of over 50 people drinking in a street bash. The tavern owner who was operating illegally was arrested and the liquor was confiscated.
The operation ended at about 3am.
