As part of our Festive Season Operational plan we had committed to ensure that residential suburbs, including the hostels will be made secure and will be flooded by police to ensure that our communities are and feel safe. The KwaMashu Men’s Hostel has been plagued by violent murders recently and a dedicated team has been investigating these incidents.
In the early hours of this morning a multi-disciplinary task team consisting of various disciplines from the SAPS and Metro Police conducted an operation at the hostel. This was an intelligence driven operation focusing on specific targets following an intensive intelligence gathering process.
During the operation five persons were arrested which included two for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, two for illegal liquor outlets and one for possession of dagga. Two firearms as well as a large quantity of alcohol were seized. As part of our multi-disciplinary approach motorists were also issued with fines for contravening our road traffic act. The high police visibility played a major role and members of the community thanked police for their presence. No crimes were reported at the hostel for the duration of the operation.
Similar operations will be taking place across the province with a greater focus on intelligence gathering. To this end we want to call on our communities to play a greater role in weeding out crime. It is disappointing that in cases such as the murder of student Shrivaar Panday who was callously attacked and lost his life, no one has come forward despite the fact that we know that the attack would have been witnessed due to its location and the time of the attack. We have specialised detectives from the Hawks that are looking into the case but we want to once again appeal to our communities not to turn a blind eye to crime.
Since the launch of our Festive Season operations on 6 October 2014 we have made great strides in dealing with criminals decisively. Until yesterday at total of 274 suspects were arrested for murder across the province by police in KwaZulu-Natal. 976 suspects have been arrested for robberies, during the same period. We have also dealt a blow to burglars with 1150 suspects being arrested for burglary. 397 suspects have been arrested for rapes and sexual offences across the province during this period.
Assaults still remain a great challenge to law enforcement over this period and to this end we have arrested 3 397 suspects. 4 864 suspects have been arrested for drug related crimes whilst 942 have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Liquor which is one of the key contributors to most crimes is receiving our undivided attention and 3 429 person have been arrested for liquor related crimes. During this period 267 persons were arrested for illegal possession of firearms whilst 556 firearms were removed from our streets.
On a sombre note. We have lost another foot soldier in the fight against crime. It is alleged that on Wednesday 12 November 2014, at approximately 19h50, police officers from Highflats SAPS were tracing a suspect in Richmond for attempted murder and murder committed in Highflats. The suspect who was travelling in a Toyota Hilux Double cab opened fire on police officers who returned fire. Constable Musa Zulu (29) was fatally wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The suspect also sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Two pistols were recovered from the suspects possession. Constable Zulu was wearing his bullet proof jacket; however he was shot in the head. He died a hero fighting for the citizens of this country to live in a crime free society. Our condolences go out to his family. We will not be intimidated by these thugs and we appeal to our communities to rally around our police officers in a united front against crime.
This is just the start of the Festive Season and we are just warming up. Thugs that roam our streets will feel the heat.
Media enquiries:
Colonel Naicker
Cell: 082 556 7865
