GQEBERHA – Over the past weekend, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, led extensive police operations across the Nelson Mandela Bay District, significantly ramping up security measures in Gqeberha, particularly in areas identified as crime hotspots.
According to South African Police Service, the operations, which began on Wednesday and continued until the early hours of Saturday, August 4, 2024, focused on increasing police visibility in problematic areas such as Gelvandale, Kwadwesi, and Motherwell. Activities included compliance checks at liquor outlets, firearm compliance checks, stop-and-search operations, blue light patrols, and the execution of search warrants at residences in the Gelvandale area.
The weekend operations yielded substantial results with the arrest of three individuals for possession of two unlicensed firearms and ammunition on Saturday, August 3. Investigations revealed that these firearms had been reported stolen in KwaDwesi and Patensie in 2017 and 2024, respectively. Police also conducted numerous other operations throughout the district, including inspections for compliance at liquor outlets, drug posts visits, and arrests of more than seventy suspects for various offenses, including illegal possession of drugs.
Notably, police arrested sixty-nine suspects for crimes ranging from attempted murder and hijacking to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and robbery. Additionally, eleven motorists were apprehended for driving under the influence of alcohol.
All confiscated firearms are scheduled for ballistic analysis, and the arrested suspects are set to appear in their respective magistrate courts. In a statement to police officers and members on parade last night in Gqeberha, Lt Gen Mene emphasized the shift towards more proactive measures to ensure public safety, declaring that “playtime is over for criminals.” He highlighted that the operations would continue in the Nelson Mandela Bay District to curb persistent criminal activities.