To commemorate Women’s Month the Roodepan Police Station, in collaboration with Kagisho Police Station and various other stakeholders recently joined forces and executed Operation Basadi in and around Kimberley.

Kagisho station commander Col. Michelle Ford led the operation as the operational commander. “A vehicle checkpoint was conducted in Roodepan, where 160 vehicles and 456 persons were stopped and searched, and traffic fines to the valued of R7,050 were issued for various traffic violations,” said communications officer, Sgt. Dikeledi Gopane.

Tuck Shop compliance inspections in Kimberley. Photo: SAPS

Operation Basadi was officially launched last week in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape and started with a multidisciplinary female-dominated parade.

“Lt.Gen. Koliswa Otola addressed the members and the Pofadder community regarding GBVF-related crimes and encouraged them to break the silence and speak out against any form of physical and emotional abuse.”

A total of 262 vehicles and 194 persons were stopped and searched in the roadblock. Ten traffic fines to the value of R6,700 were issued, and 650 crime prevention safety hints pamphlets were distributed to motorists.

Roadblocks led by Operation Basadi in the Northern Cape. Photo: SAPS

Nine suspects were apprehended for violating the Illicit Mining Act around Kimberley and in Namaqualand, and many undocumented immigrants were detained.  At the same time, their cases were investigated and checked by immigration officials.

Compliance inspections were conducted at tuckshops, premises were searched, and high visibility patrols were executed in hotspot areas.

Operation Basadi is expected to continue throughout August to commemorate the achievements and strides made by women in law enforcement.

OFM News dg