Festive season crackdown: KZN police arrest thousands, seize firearms, drugs and 64,000 litres of alcohol

As the festive season comes to a close in KwaZulu-Natal, Deputy Police Commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba unveiled a comprehensive report that detailed the efforts of law enforcement in tackling crime during the bustling period. 

Since the launch of operations on October 15, the police have been on high alert, and implemented a strategy aimed at curbing various criminal activities and ensuring the safety of residents. The overview that presented to Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, highlighted the strides made in the fight against crime.

Arrests

Makoba said that for contravening the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No 60 and 2000), 329 people were arrested. 

“We have arrested 429 people for possession of firearms without a licence, and for ammunition (illegal possession) there are 454,” Makoba said. 

“For dangerous weapons, it’s 469. That talks to all the knives and sharp instruments that, in most cases, are utilised by criminals to commit crimes like robberies, assault GBH (grievous bodily harm) and, at times, attempted murder.” 

She said 529 people were arrested for drug dealing, while 4,048 were arrested for drug possession. 

Also, 3,290 people were arrested for illegal liquor dealing. 

Shifting to contact crime-related arrests, Makoba said the biggest contributor was both assault GBH and assault common. 

She explained that assault common (1,024 arrests), in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, did not necessarily affect an arrest immediately but the numbers are high because most of the assaults were a result of assaults happening in domestic violence setups. The law allows for arrest for such crimes, especially if the assault and crime were still imminent within the family. 

“But GBH, this is the main contributor in our contact crime figures, (and account for) 2,133 arrests that we have effected,” Makoba said. 

She said there were 379 rape-related arrests and 255 for murder. 

“Yes, it doesn’t tally with the number of murders that have happened during this period, but the investigation continues. In some cases, it’s not easy to effect arrests immediately,” Makoba said. 

On property-related crimes, and crimes dependent on police action for detection, Makoba said: “The biggest number is driving under the influence of liquor (3,000), especially during this time, we focus on this to eliminate and minimise the number of deaths on our roads. The RTI, Department of Transport, together with SAPS in different districts, is hard at work trying to address this issue.”

She also noted that 2,133 illegal immigrants were arrested. 

Recoveries and confiscations

• Alcoholic beverages: 64,000 litres
• Drugs: dagga (1,134,29kg), dagga plants (507), cocaine (121.09 grams), crack cocaine (3,566,01 grams), crystal meth (1,577,73 grams), heroin (2,582,16 grams), and nyaope/whoonga (3,895,45 grams). 
• Firearms: handguns (489), rifles (50), shotguns (27) and homemade (32). 

Makoba said they faced an issue with criminals using toy guns to commit contact crimes like robberies and carjackings. Their stop-and-searches often yielded toy firearms which are being employed as instruments for serious crime.

She said 261 toy guns were recovered. 

KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi attributed the successes to the joint effort of all law enforcement agencies—including the SAPS, RTI, Metro Police, and various municipal and district agencies—along with a strong reliance on community safety structures, such as the Community in Blue patrols, operating under the Community Policing Forum.

Premier Ntuli commended Mkhwanazi’s team for the hope they have returned to KZN residents.

To Mkhwanazi, Ntuli said that KZN residents spoke with one voice and said, “they have police that are of integrity.” 

“It’s a good thing. You have branded SAPS in the province of KwaZulu-Natal because you’re a good principal.”

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za