Good morning ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you very much for joining us here this morning. We appreciate the support because through the media we are able to communicate with the public out there about issues of safety and security that concern them.
As we all know, Gauteng province is the economic hub of our country and, as such, it is attractive to all types of criminal characters.To address this from a policing point of view, you need officers who are highly trained, experienced, dedicated and, most of all, 100% committed to ensuring that we deliver on the Constitutional mandate of the SAPS. That mandate says we must combat, prevent and investigate crime, maintain public order and enforce the law.
It is with this in mind that I am pleased to report yet another success here in Gauteng involving a matter which is of huge concern to the entire SAPS and in particular to me as the National Commissioner and, I am certain, to all residents of this province.
Early in the evening on Monday, 2 June 2014, two SAPS Sandton members on patrol in Woodmead, spotted a black BMW vehicle with blue lights on. The suspects in the vehicle had blocked a private vehicle when the members on patrol approached the scene. The suspects initially identified themselves as police officers.
As the SAPS members were questioning them, the suspects realised that the police were suspicious and one of them pulled a firearm from the vehicle in an attempt to shoot at the police. The alert SAPS member quickly drew his firearm and fired a shot at the suspect who was hit in the leg.
Two male suspects, aged 39 and 41, were arrested. Police confiscated SAPS and Metro police reflective jackets, blue lights and 1 firearm with 10 rounds of ammunition. The firearm, a 9mm pistol, was positively linked to an incident of theft in Akasia, Pretoria.
The police also recovered two SANDF Waterkloof Airbase appointment certificates and 5 cellphones.The two suspects will be appearing in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court today on charges of attempted robbery, impersonating a police offer, pointing of firearm, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition today.
As you may be aware, last year, I set up a special investigating unit under the leadership of the Divisional Commissioner of the Detectives, Lt Gen Moonoo to, in collaboration with the Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng; investigate these blue light robberies and airport followings.
The team is investigating this incident and has in fact already linked one of the suspects to another blue light related incident. The team has been very successful. Since its establishment,18 people linked to about 30 incidents have been arrested.
In fact, one suspect, Patricia Mehlomakhulo, who is believed to be one of the ring leaders in the airport-related robberies, will appear today in the Alexandra Magistrates Court for a bail application. She is appearing on three charges of armed robbery. The incidents occurred last year in the Sandton area. She was arrested on 18 May 2014 is currently in custody. SAPS will vigorously oppose her bail application.
Another suspect, Lentswe Abel Madube will today appear in the Germiston Magistrates Court for the setting of a trial date. He is facing seven armed robbery cases. The team has also identified eleven other suspects and are pursuing them.
Furthermore, early yesterday morning, the police arrested four suspects aged between 26 and 38 years-of-age, and recovered two firearms,following a cash-in-transit robbery at Sontonga Mall in Katlehong on Monday morning.The suspects were arrested in Johannesburg, Jeppe and Tokoza hostels and 12 cellular phones including the latest Samsung and Nokia phones were also recovered. They are to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court today.
Members of the Provincial Investigation Unit were following up information when they arrested the suspects. This was after a pension payout point at the Mall was robbed by a group of men on Monday morning. Pensioners were already queuing for their money when a group of 16 suspects pounced.
The suspects were waiting for the security guards when the robbery occurred. They fired shots at the guards and one of the guards was injured. The suspects took the money and escaped in five vehicles - three BMWs, a Mercedes Benz and an Audi.
The Audi was recovered not far from the mall and it was established that it was stolen in Daveyton last month.
I have provided a few examples of what can be achieved when the police and members of the community work together. It now gives me great pleasure to announce that I have appointed Lieutenant General Lesetja Joel Mothiba as the new Gauteng Provincial Commissioner. Those that know General Mothiba will confirm that he is a very competent, experienced and skilled leader and well-suited to lead Gauteng province.
Lt General Mothiba brings with him over 30 years of experience to the position having gone up the ranks within the SAPS since joining the police in 1982; the latest being the Divisional Commissioner responsible for Visible Policing.
Amongst some of his duties, he was tasked with enhancing visible policing as a key function of the SAPS, ensuring effective administration of the provisions of the Firearms Control Act, the monitoring and evaluation of policies, strategies, standards and guidelines of the Police Emergency Services as well as the prevention and combatting of crime in the railway environment.
He served as commander for seven years at the Alexandra police station, six years at the helm of Human Resource Development and the last four years as the Divisional Commissioner, Visible Policing.
General Mothiba has also excelled academically boasting a National Diploma in Police Administration which was attained in 1989, a Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science and a BA Honours Degree which he attained in 1994 and 1997 respectively. The General is currently busy with his Master’s Degree in Policing.
The SAPS management team and I are confident that Lt General Mothiba is the right person to lead the SAPS in Gauteng. He has been acting in this role for some time and I know that he will continue to receive the full support of the local and national management team as they continue to work hard to make Gauteng safer. Congratulations General Mothiba. We wish you everything of the best.
Media enquiries:
Lieutenant General SM Makgale,Head of Corporate Communication
E-mail: solomon.makgale@saps.gov.za
Tel : 012 393 2940 / 2630
Cell: 082 781 8863
