“I believe all this police presence is nice, particularly in an space like this.”
This was a remark made by one of many dozens of motorists pulled over throughout a roadblock alongside the R23 (Heidelberg Street) in Brakpan final week.
Whereas some appeared irritated by visitors shifting at a snail’s tempo, and others had been visibly irritated once they had been chosen to cease and have their automobile searched, others appreciated the huge present of pressure and energy to deal with crime.
The R23, which has lengthy been a stomping floor for hijackers, was saturated with women and men in blue and different position gamers on the morning of February 13 as Operation Shanela rolled into city.
Operation Shanela actions embody monitoring operations, roadblocks, excessive visibility patrols, stop-and-searches in addition to tracing of wished suspects.
The operation was led by Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant Common Tommy Mthombeni, who was joined by senior SAPS administration and different legislation enforcement businesses.
Police from surrounding stations additionally assisted, together with specialist models such because the drone unit. A drone was deployed to provide police a hen’s-eye view of the roadblock and help in crime-fighting.
Mthombeni was an energetic participant within the operation, and didn’t hesitate to go looking autos, as did Brakpan SAPS station commander Brigadier Johanna Ngoma.

Gauteng’s prime cop informed the Brakpan Herald the operation was geared toward aiding Brakpan police with the discount of crime.
“After we took presentation from the station commander, it clearly displays the station is having some challenges when it comes to contact crimes, which is homicide, tried homicide, assault GBH, and subcategory theft, which is automotive and truck hijackings,” mentioned Mthombeni.
“We’re right here to ensure that we assist the station commander when it comes to the operational actions.”
Mthombeni was happy to share the roadblock had already yielded successes by mid-morning.
“We managed to arrest a minimum of 34 unlawful immigrants, and we managed to web medication, hardcore medication,” he mentioned.

A automobile was additionally impounded after its engine quantity was discovered to have been been tampered with.
Mthombeni added that there have been different operational groups deployed to completely different areas in Brakpan, and {that a} water pump utilized in unlawful mining actions had been seized.
He additionally famous the significance of the involvement of stakeholders akin to Gauteng Visitors Police, Division of Residence Affairs and others, and harassed all of the completely different position gamers had been concerned to make sure the neighborhood is secure and feels secure.
Operation Shanela additionally noticed legislation enforcement descend on unlawful mining hotspots, in addition to a number of casual settlements, together with Plastic Metropolis.
Seventy-four arrests had been made on the day. 4 suspects had been arrested for possession of medicine, six for promoting liquor with out a licence, and 64 unlawful immigrants had been nabbed.
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