The National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele, has once again expressed his satisfaction with the determination shown by South African Police Service (SAPS) members in addressing crime throughout the country albeit among those that have been arrested are police officers.
Members of the South African Police Service have made major breakthroughs in the past 24 hours through-out South Africa, from tracking down a wanted fugitive, arresting dangerous criminals, seizing illegal guns including an AK47, and thousands of rand worth of drugs to mention just a few.
A wanted fugitive Sifundo Billy, 21 year old was re-arrested after being wounded in a shoot-out with police in Kayelitsha, Western Cape. He appeared in the Alice Magistrates Court in the Eastern Cape on 13 June 2011, on charges of house robbery, theft of motor vehicle and kidnapping. Whilst being transported to the Fort Beaufort Prison later that day he together with nine (9) other prisoners overpowered the policemen and escaped. A detective task team from Alice moved swiftly and tracked down 8 out of the 10 fugitives including Sifundo Billy. The weapon found yesterday on Sifundo Billy was the weapon he had taken off the policeman. The task team is hot on the heels of the remaining two fugitives.
Police out on patrol in Table View, Cape Town searched a 23 year old and found a small bag of dagga as well as items believed to be possibly stolen. Further investigations and questioning of this man led police to a residential home in Big Bay, Table View were they found two women aged 25 and 35 as well as a 13 year old boy. On searching the premises they found dagga to the value of R50 000, as well as smaller quantities of cocaine and other designer drugs.
Cash to the value of R255 000-00 was also discovered and seized. Further investigations led police to a storage facility in Racing Park, Table View were more dagga to the value of R200 000-00 and R600 000-00 in cash was found and seized. The 23 year old has been arrested and charged for being in possession of suspected stolen goods as well as being in possession of drugs. The two women have been arrested and charged for possession and dealing in drugs. All three will be appearing in court tomorrow. The 13 year old boy has been released into the care of a family member.
Members of the Johannesburg Flying Squad stopped and searched a Mercedes Benz in Bedfordview, after having received information. On searching the suspects and the car they found one (1) AK47 and two (2) 9mm pistols. It was also established that the vehicle had been hijacked in Vanderbijlpark earlier this month. The two occupants of the vehicle aged 34 and 38 have been arrested.
In Jouberton, North West province, three men were arrested for armed robbery. Two of the suspects involved in the robbery were found to be policemen, one was in SAPS uniform and it was established that he was a reservist, the other was a police Constable and they both are stationed at Jouberton Police Station. They were arrested by their fellow colleagues from Jouberton Police Station who responded to the armed robbery call.
"I am very pleased indeed with the zest and determination shown by our police officers throughout the country to address crimes of all categories on a daily basis," said General Bheki Cele. "it is also inspiring to know that our decent and hardworking police officers continue to weed out the bad apples within our organisation, while we clean up our streets we are showing that we are also cleaning up our house," added Cele.
Enquiries:
Captain Dennis Adriao
Cell: 082 828 5773
E-mail: adriaod@saps.org.za
Source: South African Police Service
