By Mapaballo Borotho
- More than 15,000 suspects were arrested across South Africa during Easter weekend police operations targeting various crimes.
- Authorities also seized illegal firearms, shut down over 500 illegal taverns, and made hundreds of arrests related to alcohol and drug offences.
- Drunk driving remained a major concern, with over 1,400 motorists arrested for driving under the influence.
At least 15 840 suspects were arrested for various crimes across South Africa over the Easter long weekend.
These suspects were arrested during South African Police Service (SAPS) Easter operations, which also resulted in the confiscation of illegal firearms.
A total of 132 illegal and unlicensed firearms, including 1 097 rounds of ammunition, were seized. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of confiscated handguns, with 42 seized.
A further 747 dangerous weapons, including knives, were also confiscated.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said these confiscations are a critical step in the fight against violent crime.
“One of the critical areas we continue to focus on is the regulation of alcohol sales and the shutdown of illegal taverns.
This past week, a total of 532 illegal taverns and shebeens were shut down for non-compliance with the Liquor Act,” she said.
Illegal taverns are among the establishments where many crimes take place in South Africa, with some incidents of unexplained murders also reported.
Mathe said more than 700 people who were illegally selling liquor were arrested.
“The majority of those without liquor licences were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (299) and Mpumalanga (209).
By shutting down illegal taverns and arresting those who sell liquor unlawfully, law enforcement is taking a firm stand against environments that enable crime to thrive,” she added.
Drunk driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol has been identified as one of the leading factors in road fatalities.
Such incidents are more common during the Easter holidays and festive season, when people travel to different destinations for rest or activities.
This past weekend alone, 1 419 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for the most arrests, followed by Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.
Furthermore, a total of 1 744 suspects were arrested for drug possession. The majority of these arrests were made in the Western Cape (737), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (341).
A breakdown of other arrests is as follows:
- Assault GBH: 1 342
- Murder: 146
- Attempted murder: 123
- Rape: 189
- House robbery: 171
- Dealing in drugs: 334
READ NEXT: 121 motorists arrested for drunk driving during Easter weekend in Joburg