Staff Reporter.
The City of Tshwane says the law enforcement agencies have arrested four people for attacking three of their busses.
The suspects are facing charges of malicious damage to property and intimidation.
The bus services resumed on Monday after they were halted due to the ongoing labour dispute between the city and municipal workers.
The buses were damaged in Belle Ombre, Pretoria North and another outside the C De Wet Bus Depot in Pretoria CBD.
Spokesperson Selby Bokaba says one suspect was found in possession of a bag full of stones.
“The arrests were a result of a multidisciplinary operation undertaken jointly by the SAPS Dog Unit and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), aimed at curbing criminality that has characterised the unlawful and unprotected strike by some city employees, “Bokaba said.
Bokaba added the bus services will not be withdrawn due to intimidation from striking workers.
“The city will instead beef up security to protect the bus drivers, valued commuters, and the bus fleet.”
“The SAPS and TMPD have vowed to clamp down harshly on anyone who intimidates the non-striking employees and those who partake in acts of violence. The law enforcement agencies are on alert around all the routes operated by TBS and at the depots,” said Bokaba.
Meanwhile Gauteng police started Operation Safer Festive Season on a high note when they recorded arrests of more than 140 suspects and recovered rifles, including an AK-47, from a man suspected to be a kingpin of illegal mining in the West Rand.
“Police received information about a suspect who is in possession of unlicensed firearms in Bekkersdal, West Rand District. The information was operationalised on the day of Operation Safer Festive Season, 21 October 2023. Upon searching the premises, police from Crime intelligence and Bekkersdal Visible Policing found two unlicensed firearms (R5 rifle and AK47 rifle) and dagga,” said the Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) in a statement on Sunday.
The incident saw a 36-year-old suspect being arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and dealing in dagga.
Furthermore, detectives went on to trace wanted suspects and arrested 56 of them for crimes ranging from rape to fraud.
Minister of Police General Bheki Cele, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela joined the police at a roadblock and illegal mining disruptive operation in Roodepoort.
The operation resulted in more than 85 suspects being arrested for offences that include possession of suspected stolen goods and contravening the Immigration Act.
Generators and drilling machines used by the illegal miners were seized as the police dismantled and disrupted their operation.