BLOEMFONTEIN: A multi-disciplinary women police-led nation-building Operation Basadi #OperationShanelaII crime fighting campaign undertaken in Bloemfontein has yielded significant outcomes. Inspection officials of the Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority (FSGLTA) participated in the law enforcement initiatives conducted across the city on Friday, 22 August.
Their efforts ranged from arrests for contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of drugs and dangerous weapons as well as closure of four unregistered shebeens in the city. Those arrested for drug possession include South Africans and foreign nationals.
Lt Col Thabo Covane, provincial spokesperson for the police, said joint operations targeted crime hotspots areas in the city to ensure compliance, as well as major routes N8 and R702. He said the operations in roadblocks aimed at ensuring compliance with the National Road Traffic Act. Inspection with officials of the FSGLTA aimed at compliance to liquor regulations and licensing in terms of South Africa’s Liquor Act as well as second-hand goods trading.
“Policing actions resulted in six suspects arrested for possession of drugs. In addition, two foreign nationals were apprehended for possession of counterfeit goods in the Bayswater suburban area,” said Covane. He said members opened a case docket for investigation into possessing and trading in counterfeit goods.
Covane said a compliance inspection with officials of the FSGLTA in the liquor trading hotspot area in Ella Street, in Willows, was significant. Having multiple liquor stores and student accommodations, the area is a crime hotspot. “Four shebeens were closed down for selling liquor as they were not duly registered to trade,” said Covane. He said the crackdown in the area led to the arrest of 12 persons for contravention of the Immigration Act and for possession of housebreaking implements, dangerous weapons and articles resembling a firearm.
