Siphelele Nketo
ONGOING police initiatives targeting crimes through high-visibility patrols, roadblocks and targeted raids in hotspot areas led to the arrest of over 13 542 suspects in the month of August in KZN.
In addition, 360 firearms and 8 791 rounds of ammunition were recovered during Operation Shanela II and routine policing. Of the recovered firearms, 301 were pistols, 23 rifles, 18 homemade guns, 13 shotguns and firearms which were either semi or fully automatic.
Police KZN spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that contact crimes contributed to the highest number of arrests with 4 007 suspects arrested for the crime category. Two hundred and thirty-two suspects were arrested for murder cases, 249 were nabbed in connection with cases of rape and 209 suspects were arrested for attempted murder.
Two hundred and fifty-one suspects were arrested for various categories of robbery. “The highest number of arrests in a single crime category was for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm with 1 915 suspects arrested. This was followed by an assault common with 856 suspects arrested for the crime,” Netshiunda said.
He added that 212 suspects were arrested for burglary at residential premises, 66 were arrested for business burglary and another 66 people were arrested for stock theft. He said 49 suspects were arrested for theft out of motor vehicles with 17 more suspects nabbed for theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles. “Police also clamped down on those who destroyed other people’s property, resulting in the arrest of 381 suspects for malicious damage to property and eight suspects who were arrested for arson,” he added.
He explained that 1 200 people were arrested for liquor related crimes. He appreciated the participation of community members in the fight against crime. He said many suspects arrested, mostly for violent crimes such as murder, were identified by community members who tipped off police officers.
