By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, provided an update on Sunday on the successes registered during their safer festive season operations.
Masemola said the operations which commenced on October 11 2024 and ended on January 31 had resulted in the arrest of 244,951 individuals.
“Our men and women in blue have worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone in the country is and feels safe,” he said.”
He confirmed that the process to identify the illegal miners who had died underground in Stilfontein was still under way.
“The department of health forensic pathologists are busy with the autopsies with the assistance of the police victim identification centre (VIC) where fingerprints and samples for DNA analysis are being collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis,” he said.
He said the teams have collected DNA samples from the human remains, fingerprints and buccal samples from some family members who had come forward.
On the escape of alleged Stilfontein underground kingpin Neo James Tshwaeli, also known as “Tiger,” Masemola said a specialised team of experienced detectives and crime intelligence operatives were investigating.
He said their efforts have so far resulted in the arrest of four police members who are part of Operation Vala Umgodi, which is aimed at curbing illegal mining.
“The members have been removed from this operation and internal departmental proceedings are under way.”
According to Masemola, since the inception of the operation in December 2023 , more than 18,000 suspects have been arrested, illegal immigrants being in the majority.
He also confirmed that police were still conducting patrols and guarding disused and abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein and other hotspot areas.
To date, Masemola said, 458 firearms and 12,000 rounds of ammunition had been seized during Vala Umgodi operations across the country.
“283 trucks, 303 vehicles, and 84 big machinery are also among the confiscations from illegal mining operations. Over R5m in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32m have been seized,” he said.
The festive operations saw more than 2-million patrols carried out, with more than 4,600 roadblocks and 620,000 stop-and-searches conducted and more than 2-million people searched.
“More than 78,000 licensed liquor premises compliance inspections were executed together with more than 12,000 compliance inspections at firearm dealers and private security premises,” Masemola said.
-Boosting the Police Force-
With 2,699 new officers deployed in December and 5,500 trainees starting this week, Masemola said SAPS aims to increase police visibility.
“We were able to heighten police visibility and boost our crime combatting efforts at areas identified as hotspots across the country including malls, beaches and along our country’s key strategic routes.”
-Honouring Fallen Officers-
The festive period saw the loss of 21 police officers, which reulsted into the arrest of 30 suspects, with seven convicted to life in prison.
“What is encouraging to note is that we have categorised the killing of police officers as a national priority offence which is investigated by the DPCI, also known as the Hawks.”
The police commissioner said law enforcement remains committed to high-density operations, stronger intelligence units, advanced technology, and community partnerships.