Two stolen motor vehicle recovered during Operation Platinum Belt

Police members deployed for the Operation Platinum Belt that began more than a month ago, are making their presence felt in crime hotspots around the Rustenburg Cluster. Within a period of 3 days, they have successfully recovered 2 stolen motor vehicles. On Thursday, 17 July 2014, at about 15:30, police received a tip-off from a member of the community about a suspected stolen vehicle that was hidden at a house in Majakaneng. Members raided the identified premises at Skandaf Section and recovered the stolen vehicle. One suspect was arrested.

According to the information available at this stage, the white Opel Corsa was apparently stolen on Saturday, 24 April 2014 while parked outside a restaurant in Buffelspoort. The 22-year-old man is set to appear in court soon for possession of suspected stolen property. In another incident, on Saturday, 19 July 2014, at about 18:45, members deployed in Phokeng seized another stolen vehicle in Masosobane Section. The white Nissan 1400 with a Gauteng registration number was allegedly hijacked on 18 July 2011 at KwaThema near Springs in Gauteng. Police also apprehended 2 males, aged 42 and 59. The pair is expected to appear at Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court soon facing charges of possession of suspected stolen property.

This major operation was launched last month to combat crime and restore law and order in areas that were affected by the 5-month long platinum strike and service delivery protests. Meanwhile, the police in North West arrested a total of 719 suspects through various day to day operations in the past 6 days between 13 and 20 July 2014 for Contact, Contact related, Property related and other crimes. The arrests include 4 for murder, 141 for assault GBH and common, 31 for burglary residential and business, 38 for driving under the influence of liquor, 97 for drug related crimes, 14 for robbery aggravating.

A total of twenty-6 (27) undocumented persons were also arrested during the operations. It was during the operation that the police managed to recover and seize drugs such as nyaope, cat, mandrax, dagga and heroine. The following goods were also seized; illegal cigarettes, dangerous weapons, livestock and numerous electrical appliances. Most of the suspects have already appeared in various courts within the province while others are due to appear on Monday, 21 July 2014. Mooifontein:

A 51-year-old suspect is expected to appear in Itsoseng Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 21 July 2014 for alleged murder of a 35-year old man. It is alleged that the police arrived at the suspect’s place where they found the victim burning. The community members were allegedly surrounding the yard of the suspect whose hands and feet were tied with a barbed wire. The incident took place on Friday, 18 July 2014 at Uitkyk Village at about 21:00. According to the information received, the suspect was allegedly heard uttering that he killed the victim. The latter was taken to Gelukspan hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. The suspect was arrested, and the motive of the incident is unknown at this stage.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Zukiswa Mbombo thanked members of the community for guarding and keeping safe the suspect without taking the law into their own hands. Also view: Crime as a Threat to Road Safety in South Africa

Two stolen motor vehicle recovered during Operation Platinum Belt