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The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Police sweep Rietgat, Soshanguve in major crime bust
Police in the Tshwane metro arrested more than 300 suspects for various crimes over the weekend. The high-density operation ran from July 19, aimed at increasing police visibility with continued actions by addressing crime in Tshwane, focused on the Rietgat and Soshanguve policing precincts. The multidisciplinary operation was led by the District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major-General Samuel Thine. It comprised different stakeholders, including SAPS, the Department of Home Affairs, National Traffic Police, TMPD, Gauteng Traffic police and wardens, the Department of Community Safety and representatives of the local CPF. Police spokesperson Johan van Dyk stated that the combined effort resulted in the arrest of 343 suspects for various criminal offences. 'These results are a direct outcome of planning, strategic deployments and heightened visibility aimed at reducing crime and continued track and tracing of wanted suspects,' he said. Van Dyk said detective teams were responsible for the arrest of more than 200 suspects on Saturday night alone. 'Tshwane District detectives executed the first phase of the operation and were responsible for 254 arrests. These included 70 suspects for gender-based violence-related offences, 4 for murder, 3 for attempted murder, 9 for armed robbery, 1 for impersonating a police officer, 27 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and 6 for rape.' A roadblock was set up in Soshanguve, and two operational teams were deployed in the policing areas, resulting in the detention of 29 undocumented foreign nationals. They are currently being processed by immigration authorities for deportation. Van Dyk said that during the operation, 926 individuals and 418 vehicles were searched, adding that '27 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.' He said crime hotspots that were raided led to the arrest of more suspects. 'Targeted patrols were conducted at 21 identified crime hotspots, leading to further arrests, including 19 persons for public drinking and 4 suspects for possession of drugs when several bags containing crystal meth were found in their possession.' Traffic enforcement units issued 57 Aarto infringement notices, totalling R76 000 in fines. Van Dyk said 16 spaza shops were inspected, with 22 liquor compliance inspections being carried out at various establishments, resulting in six being closed. He said that alcohol and two gambling machines were confiscated. Major-General Thine commended all participating stakeholders for their continued co-operation. Thine also thanked the citizens of Tshwane for their words of encouragement and support. He assured the residents and emphasised that disruptive crime-combatting operations will continue across Tshwane. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activities to SAPS Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS App. ALSO READ: Local farmers market remains popular in Pretoria Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-07-2025
- IOL News
Three Tshwane municipal employees arrested for R7 million transformer theft
Three City of Tshwane municipal employees were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly stealing a R7 million transformer from the Laudium electricity substation in Pretoria. Image: Supplied The SAPS in Gauteng arrested three City of Tshwane municipal employees on Tuesday morning for allegedly stealing a R7 million transformer from the Laudium electricity substation. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation that started in November 2024, in which 11 suspects were initially arrested. Of those, 10 suspects were subcontractors and released due to a lack of evidence, while one municipal worker remains in custody and is scheduled for a court appearance on August 8, 2025. Tshwane District Commissioner Samuel Thine said an investigation by the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit resulted in the arrest of three employees. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The suspects will face charges of theft of essential infrastructure and are due to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. "We are making inroads because essential infrastructure theft, as we know, cripples the economy of the country. It also cripples the households, where we run into a shortage of electricity, where this infrastructure is supposed to be taken to the right places, they are transferred somewhere else, in terms of thefts," he said. Thine said transformer theft was not a new occurrence in the metro, adding that while this case involving a large sum was specific to Tshwane, smaller transformer thefts had been reported in other areas. He added that more arrests are expected as investigations continue. City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the SAPS had arrested three municipal workers in connection with the attempted theft and vandalism of transformers at the Claudius substation in Laudium, which occurred last year. He said the arrested individuals are reportedly employees linked to the incident, which severely compromised the city's power infrastructure and security. "The city welcomes this development and commends the SAPS for their swift and decisive action. Criminal acts such as theft and sabotage not only endanger public safety but also place unnecessary strain on municipal resources and disrupt essential services," Mashigo said. He said the arrests represent an important step towards ensuring accountability and deterrence. "Our residents deserve uninterrupted services and infrastructure that is secure from deliberate damage and sabotage. As the matter is now being handled within the justice, crime prevention, and security cluster, the city will refrain from further comment at this stage to avoid compromising ongoing investigations," he said.
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- The Citizen
Brooklyn suffers nation's most vehicle thefts
Brooklyn Police Station continues to lead the country in motor vehicle and motorcycle theft, even as national statistics show an overall decline in these crimes. According to the latest quarterly crime stats released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on May 23, the station remains among the top 30 nationally for serious crimes and firmly at number one for reported vehicle theft. Fourth quarter (January to March) data of the 2024/25 financial year reveals that Brooklyn remains under severe pressure, despite certain improvements in other crime categories. Ward councillor Shaun Wilkinson acknowledged the area's unique challenges, saying that high student activity and nightlife are contributing factors. 'There are many issues in Brooklyn,' he said. 'Students are often targeted. They might be looking for drugs and end up being robbed.' He said, however, the robberies get reported and not the drug use. Wilkinson also explained that many crimes reported in Brooklyn actually take place in neighbouring areas like Sunnyside but are reported in Brooklyn for convenience or for insurance purposes. 'Students and others often park in unsafe areas like Mandela Boulevard, making themselves vulnerable to smash-and-grabs.' The station serves 28 suburbs, including Hatfield, Waterkloof, Menlo Park, Hazelwood, and Lynnwood North. Its jurisdiction includes student residences, bars, clubs, universities, shopping centres and diplomatic offices – factors that contribute to its high crime load. Among Pretoria east's six police stations, Brooklyn remains the most affected by crime, currently ranking: – 5th nationally for property-related crimes – 6th for commercial crimes – 8th for common robbery – 9th for serious crimes overall – 10th for theft not otherwise specified – 20th for burglaries at non-residential premises – 23rd for community-reported crimes Despite these numbers, Brooklyn has seen progress in other areas. The latest quarter showed a 13-case decline in burglaries at non-residential premises and no reported cases of attempted sexual offences, murder, arson, stock theft or cash-in-transit heists. Theft from motor vehicles dropped by 21%, and robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 40.7%. Tshwane's district commissioner, Major-General Samuel Thine, said Brooklyn's challenges stem from its geography and density. 'The precinct includes malls, universities, diplomatic sites, and nightlife venues, making it a high-risk area for property crime and robbery,' he explained. He acknowledged Brooklyn's history of topping crime stats but noted a 6.2% drop in community-reported property and contact crimes. 'We now rank 25th nationally and 7th in Gauteng,' said Thine. To curb crime, Thine said the station is partnering with private security firms, Crime Intelligence, the SAPS Vehicle Theft Unit, and local law enforcement in various operations. He added that the operations include high-density patrols, Operation Shanela, and FLASH initiatives targeting nightlife venues. 'The reactivation of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and business forums is also aimed at improving co-operation between the police and residents.' Allegations of corruption have also surfaced against the Brooklyn police station commander. However, Thine confirmed that no formal cases have been opened and no investigations are currently underway. 'To date, nothing has been reported and no official cases have been registered for investigation,' he said. Thine urged members of the public to come forward with credible information and to make use of official reporting channels. He assured that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality. 'Community support is critical. Residents must report crime and provide information, especially about suspicious or corrupt activity,' he said. Reports can be submitted anonymously through 0800 10111 or the MySAPS app. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- The Citizen
Alcohol seized over the past year in Tshwane undergoes massive destruction
Alcohol seized over the past year in Tshwane undergoes massive destruction To adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards non-compliance with the Liquor Act, the SAPS in the Tshwane district disposed of 6.4 million millilitres of confiscated alcohol on Wednesday. The disposal took place at the Tshwane Metro Water works in Pretoria Central, under the command of district commissioner Major-General Samuel Thine, and overseen by Brigadier Kushie Pietersen, station commander of Brooklyn SAPS. According to police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk, the alcohol was seized over the past year during various law enforcement operations. These include liquor compliance inspections, targeted raids, high-density operations, and the ongoing execution of Operation Shanela at all 36 police stations across the district. Van Dyk said confiscations occurred primarily due to violations of the Liquor Act, including trading without valid licences or operating unregistered outlets. 'The Tshwane District SAPS continues to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards non-compliance with the Liquor Act,' he said. He said the abuse and unlawful distribution of alcohol remains a key contributor to several societal challenges, including public disorder, domestic violence, assault, and other contact crimes. 'Alcohol misuse is often linked to socio-economic instability, placing an additional burden on healthcare services, policing resources, and community safety,' said Van Dyk. He emphasised that by removing illicit liquor from circulation and enforcing regulatory compliance, SAPS aims to mitigate the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and restore order in communities. He added that this approach supports broader crime prevention efforts and fosters safer, more responsible environments for all residents. Thine has issued a stern warning to liquor traders and restaurant owners to ensure full compliance with their liquor licences. 'We will not hesitate to act against those who violate the law. Non-compliant establishments will face fines, closure, and the confiscation of all liquor on the premises,' Thine said. He said that law enforcement efforts will remain ongoing across the Tshwane district to regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol, in line with SAPS's commitment to building safer communities. ALSO READ: MMC provides mixed results in Centurion service delivery efforts Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
21-05-2025
- The South African
SAPS destroys 6 million ml of illegal alcohol in Tshwane
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Tshwane has destroyed over 6.4 million millilitres of confiscated alcohol, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on illegal liquor trading. The destruction took place on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, at the Tshwane Metro Water works in Pretoria-Central. SAPS officers, under the command of District Commissioner Major-General Samuel Thine and overseen by Brigadier Kushie Pietersen, Station Commander of Brooklyn SAPS, carried out the disposal. The alcohol was seized during year-long enforcement efforts across all 36 police stations in the district. These included compliance inspections, targeted raids, and high-density operations as part of Operation Shanela. Police made most of the confiscations after finding traders violating the Liquor Act. Offences included selling alcohol without a licence or running illegal outlets. SAPS has warned that illegal alcohol trading contributes to a range of crimes and societal issues, including domestic violence, assault and public disorder. Major-General Thine emphasised the need to address the socio-economic consequences of alcohol abuse which strain both policing and healthcare resources. 'We will not hesitate to act against those who violate the law. Non-compliant establishments will face fines, closure and the confiscation of all liquor on the premises,' Thine said. Law enforcement operations aimed at curbing the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol will continue throughout Tshwane. SAPS has urged liquor traders and restaurant owners to fully comply with licence conditions or risk losing their stock and operating permits. Police say removing illicit liquor from circulation is vital to restoring public order and fostering safer communities. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
