A total of 1,487 arrests were made from Monday, 1 December, to Sunday for a wide range of offences, provincial police said, including murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and common assault.

Suspects were also nabbed for burglaries at residential and business premises, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of drugs, and illegal dealing in liquor.

Activities across all districts included roadblocks on national and provincial routes, tracing of wanted suspects, stop-and-searches, compliance inspections at liquor outlets, and the shutting down of unlicensed liquor premises, said North West police spokesperson brig. Sabata Mokgwabone.

Out of 1,487 arrests, 459 were caught during detectives suspected raiding operations. Police also seized a significant amount of contraband and stolen goods.

Confiscated items included copper cables, six firearms, ten rounds of ammunition, drugs, liquor, tobacco products, and suspected stolen stock or produce, such as four goats.

These efforts form part of the provincial Safer Festive Season campaign, officially launched in October as part of a national strategy to curb crime and enhance road safety during the holiday travel surge. 

Stock theft

At the time, community safety and transport management MEC Wessels Morweng stressed the importance of coordinated and intelligence-driven policing during this period.

A key priority for the 2024/25 festive season is stock theft, which continues to plague many rural communities in North West. Morweng said farmers have lodged repeated complaints with the stock theft unit, prompting strengthened interventions and targeted rural policing.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg