Operation Lungisa, a special operation launched in the Overstrand to fight crime and ensure compliance with municipal bylaws, has already yielded successes since its recent launch.
As part of phase 1 of the launch, Overstrand Deputy Mayor Lindile Ntsabo, who is also the Mayoral Committee Member for Crime Prevention in the Overstrand, together with Disaster Management and other role players such as the South African Police Service, conducted an inspection of various businesses in Zwelihle.
Perishable items with expired sell-by dates were discovered in many shops. Owners were requested to remove the items from the shelves and dispose of them in a suitable manner.
Future operations, said Ntsabo, will include the Overberg District Municipality’s Health Department addressing the issue in accordance with legislation. It is illegal to sell or donate perishable foods that are past their use-by date because it carries a health risk for the consumer.
Fines issued to shop owners in Zwelihle amounted to R44 000. This included 32 fines issued for being in breach of the National Business Act, two for National Road Traffic Act violations and 13 by-law related violations.
Phase 2 of the operation moved to the Hangklip-Kleinmond area. This part of the operation was aimed at crime prevention and the enforcement of the Living Marine Resources Management Act.
Joint crime prevention patrols between Overstrand Law Enforcement, Task Team, K9, the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), Cape Nature and the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment (DFFE) were set up on known routes as well as hot spot areas where illegal activities are taking place.
Numerous arrests were made, and equipment used to commit these various crimes was confiscated.
Ntsabo reports that seven suspected poachers were arrested for transgressing the Marine Living Resources Act. The authorities also confiscated 353 abalone weighing 302 kg, 25 undersized West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) and 139 abandoned crayfish. They also seized two Yamaha 115 motors, a vessel, four commercial crayfish traps, four crayfish rings and a Nissan NP300 bakkie. “The combined value of the seized resources is estimated at around R1 368 300,” Ntsabo stated.
On Tuesday 26 April, officers from Overstrand Municipality’s K9, RRU and Task Team arrested a woman from Stanford at the Honeymoon Bridge on the R43 outside Hermanus for the illegal possession and transportation of drugs. “On searching the vehicle, they found 40 Boss Mandrax tablets and one sachet with tik crystals,” said Ntsabo.
Several fines were also issued to motorists for driving without a driver’s licence, driving unlicensed motor vehicles and unroadworthy vehicles.
In another operation as part of Operation Lungisa, members of the Overstrand Task Team, K9 Unit and the police followed up on information about someone who had an unlicensed firearm at a house in Kleinmond. On further investigation they found two firearms and live ammunition.