More than 600 arrested Friday in Gauteng as Operation O Kae Molao continues

A total of 635 suspects have been arrested across Gauteng during the latest Operation O Kae Molao on Friday, led by Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko and the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela.

According to the police's Mathapelo Peters, detective raids for wanted suspects saw a total of 537 arrested for various crimes in: Tshwane (138) where one of the wanted suspects was further linked to a murder case opened in December 2019 at Sunnyside; Ekurhuleni (134); Johannesburg (129); West Rand (94); and Sedibeng (42).

"With the continued prioritisation of cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and those cases where children are victims, 56 of the wanted suspects were linked to domestic violence-related cases, while 64 of these 537 suspects were wanted and arrested for cases such as murder, assault, rape, and sexual assault,| said Peters. 

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Mazibuko and Mawela led the operations in Jeppe and by close of business, 12 suspects had been arrested in Jeppe, with most of the arrests effected at the roadblocks.

According to Peters, ten undocumented foreign nationals were taken in for verification of their stay in the country; while two other suspects were arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of counterfeit goods found on a truck stopped at the roadblock, respectively. 

The total value of confiscated counterfeit goods is estimated at R327 600. Traffic fines amounting to over R45 000 were also issued to motorists.

Seventeen vehicles were impounded for either unroadworthiness or suspected of being stolen.

Three illegal firearms were confiscated during the operations - one at one of the roadblocks in Jeppe and two in Eesterust.

"Parallel operations in Tshwane focused on Eersterust, Mamelodi and Mamelodi East," said Petsrs. 

Five suspects were arrested for illegal gambling, one for possession of and dealing in drugs, and a seventh suspect for possession of suspected stolen property. Seven illegal liquor outlets were shutdown with fines, and litres of alcohol confiscated.

Two vehicles were discontinued while AARTO fines amounting to R220 160 were also issued at the roadblocks.

Peters continued: "In the West Rand District, the parallel operations saw police flooding the streets of Hekpoort, Tarlton and Magaliesburg precincts where a total of 79 suspects were arrested in addition to the 94 arrested during the detective raids. Seventy-eight are undocumented foreign nationals whose status in the country is yet to be verified, while one was arrested for possession of suspected stolen property."

Counterfeit goods to the total value of R8000 was confiscated and this ranged from illicit tobacco to liquor.

Nineteen fines were issued for various contravention including the unlicensed selling of fireworks, illegal trading in liquor, and for drinking in public. Of the eight liquor outlets visited, six were shut down. Forty-four traffic fines were issued totaling R50 150; and two notices were issued for the selling of expired food items which were confiscated.

All arrested suspects will appear before the respective courts in the Province by Monday.