SAPS urge motorists to observe the rules of the road and to exercise patience and courtesy

With the Easter holidays just a week away, the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be heightening its crime-fighting efforts with the launch of ‘Operation Paseka’. This safety campaign has a duel focus of clamping down on opportunistic crime and road safety during this period.

The Easter weekend is a peak season when people embark on road trips to annual religious pilgrimages across the country or to visit friends and relatives. Traffic is at a maximum on all national routes and road fatalities peak during this time due to a range of factors. These include reckless and negligent driving, speeding, fatigue, unroadworthy vehicles and driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicants. This has necessitated the SAPS, in conjunction with other role players in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster, to launch high visibility operations to safeguard road users and communities.

“As part of Operation Paseka, we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that criminals have nowhere to hide. We have identified an increase in certain categories of crime and our men and women in blue will be out in full force to ensure that these Easter holidays are as safe and crime free as they can be,” says Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega.
Motorists are urged to observe the rules of the road and to exercise patience and courtesy to fellow road users.

SAPS urge motorists to observe the rules of the road and to exercise patience and courtesy

Botswana car thief successfully extradited by SAPS Interpol

The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Interpol NCB Pretoria successfully extradited a Botswana national who escaped justice in his home country earlier during this week on the 3rd of June 2014.

Mandand Machana Chibiya, aged 52, was wanted by the Botswana police after he was sentenced there for 14 counts of theft of motor vehicles, 15 counts of tampering with motor vehicles, 14 counts of dealing in stolen motor vehicles and giving false information to authorities.

The suspect, who was arrested in Krugersdorp on 21 August 2013 by Interpol’s Extradition and Fugitive Task Team, will still stand trial in Botswana for alleged robbery, attempted murder, forgery of stamps, possession of property stolen outside Botswana, tampering with motor vehicles and dealing in stolen vehicles.

After his arrest by Interpol, Chibiya appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court where he stood trial for extradition. He was remanded in custody until the court found him extraditable after which the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development issued an order to surrender him to Botswana authorities.

Chibiya was handed over to the Botswana police service by Interpol Pretoria at the Kopfontein Border Post.

Botswana car thief successfully extradited by SAPS Interpol