Just over two months since the launch of the Operation When Duty Calls, the police in Limpopo have made their intentions of making the province safer this festive season clear when they conducted long-weekend operations which caught over 700 law breakers off guard across the province.
A total of 768 suspects have been arrested for offences ranging from armed robbery, murder, rape, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and common assault. Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Fannie Masemola applauded the police perfect timing and warned criminals that the operation was just one of many operations which the police will embark on during this festive season.
“These operations form part of the Duty Calls festive season campaign and the arrests are a sure indication that the campaign is having an impact in ensuring that people in this province enjoy a safe and secure festive season. We will continue maintaining our visibility and make life very difficult for all criminals”, Masemola said.
The operations officially took off on 15 October 2013 and will end on 31 January 2014, and are aimed at maintaining high police visibility throughout the country and cub the cash in-transit, ATM bombings and armed robberies which gains momentum during the festive season.
During the arrests, members of the police managed to confiscate six illegal fire-arms as well as a total of 41 dangerous weapons – these include knives, panga’s, axes and other materials being used to commit offences such as murder, attempted murder, assaults and even rape.
Lt Gen Masemola further urged members of the community to know their sector commanders and to link up with the Community Policing Forum structures in their station area. “Only if we work together as one will we be able to squeeze the space for criminals in this province so that they run somewhere else,” he said.
Operations are continuing and police are also appealing to the members of the public to co-operate during the roadblocks and stop and search operations. Members of the public who have information about criminal activities may contact the 10111 Centre, Crime Stop (0860 10111) or information may be forwarded through an SMS to the Primedia Crime Line no 32211.
For further information:
Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 373 2408
