SIPHELELE NKETO

POLICE operations such as Operation Shanela have led to the arrest of 13 164 suspects for various crimes during October in KwaZulu-Natal. The police operations also involved the day-to-day police crime fighting initiatives.

Of the suspects arrested 195 were linked to cases of murder and 214 suspects were arrested in connection with cases of attempted murder.

A further 262 suspects were nabbed for rape, while 11 suspects were arrested for attempted rape.

Police said 45 suspects were also arrested for sexual assault cases and 271 people were arrested for transgression of the Domestic Violence Act.

Then, 236 suspects were arrested for robbery, with 108 of them arrested for house robbery. Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that people who solve personal differences through violence were not spared, as 1 865 suspects were arrested for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.

“Firearms are the weapon of choice during the commission of serious and violent crimes. In efforts to rid the communities of all illegal firearms, police in KZN recovered 306 firearms and over 3 000 rounds of ammunition for various calibre firearms,” said Netshiunda.

Of the recovered firearms, 14 were rifles and 13 of them were homemade guns.

Netshiunda said that 452 suspects were arrested for property related crimes, with 231 of them arrested for burglary at residential premises.

“With the festive season upon us, residents are reminded to keep their doors and windows closed and locked, especially when there is no one in the house,” he added. Police urged motorists to park their vehicles in safe parking spaces and to ensure that their vehicles are properly locked.

Netshiunda said that 16 suspects were arrested for theft of motor vehicles and 52 suspects were arrested for theft out of motor vehicles.

As part of road safety campaigns, 931 motorists were arrested for drunken driving with 2 034 people arrested for drug related crimes.