Gansbaai Police joined forces with other law enforcement authorities, including the SA National Defence Force, to curtail crime in the Gansbaai policing precinct.
Lieutenant Colonel Winston Coetzee, Gansbaai Police commander, reports that several joint operations in collaboration with the SANDF, Overstrand Law Enforcement, Overstrand Traffic Service, officials of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and the Overstrand Fire Department were executed, resulting in a resounding success. A total of 49 suspects, including 12 wanted persons, were arrested.
“Various search and seizure operations directed at identified premises associated with organised crime and gang strongholds were executed,” Coetzee stated.
On Friday 5 August, the authorities searched a residential premises where members confiscated ammunition and arrested Karien Felix (20) for being illegally in possession of ammunition.
On Saturday 6 August, another premises, allegedly associated with gang activities, was searched. Here the officials confiscated an illegal .303 rifle. Roderick Dunsdon (33) was arrested on a charge of being illegally in possession of a firearm. Both suspects appeared in the Hermanus Magistrates’ Court on Monday 8 August.
“The operations also yielded successes when two illegal shebeens were closed and all liquor on both premises was confiscated. Both shebeen owners were arrested and charged for selling liquor without a liquor licence,” Coetzee stated.
The operations were also directed at the legal liquor outlets. Officials visited the different businesses to check for underage drinking, general safety and compliance in terms of the liquor license conditions.
Coetzee reported that the Fire Department issued five notices to different liquor premises for non-compliance in terms of the safety regulations. The Immigration Act was also enforced and various foreign nationals’ passports were checked.
“A Somalian citizen was arrested for being illegally in the country. He appeared on Monday 8 August in the Hermanus Magistrates’ Court on charges related to the Immigration Act.”
Roadblocks and vehicle control points were also set up at various locations within the Gansbaai precinct, with specific focus on addressing road safety, transportation of marine resources, stolen goods, drugs and illegal firearms. Coetzee reports that a 60-year-old male was arrested for drunken driving. He will appear in court on 7 February 2023 on a charge of driving under the influence.
Coetzee hailed this multi-disciplinary operation as a success and iterated that this is the first of many similar operations. “We will not tolerate lawlessness in our town,” he concluded.