By Caryn Dolley
Hundreds of sedan taxis were taken off the road and two people arrested on Thursday in a police initiative to clamp down on unroadworthy and unregistered vehicles and to ensure safer roads this festive season.
Termed Operation Cockroach, referring to the "infestation" of illegally operated taxis, the Metropolitan Police Department and SA Police Service (SAPS) are working together on the project which started in November and will run into the new year.
On Thursday morning vehicle checkpoints in Gugulethu saw 429 vehicles pulled over, with 89 being towed away and 51 unlicensed vehicles and 130 unlicensed drivers being fined.
Eight people were arrested for crimes including shoplifting, reckless driving and the theft of a cellphone in under two hours.
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Vehicles were towed or driven away to the Rochester depot in Philippi, from where they would be transported to a roadworthy centre to determine if impounding was necessary.
"By using an electronic device SAPS are taking people's fingerprints. This shows us their records immediately and we can see if they have warrants for arrest," said Cobus Grobler, the city council's media relations officer for safety and security.
Two groups of 40 personnel worked at separate checkpoints and then moved on to set up new points around the township. Checks were done to ascertain whether vehicles were registered and if drivers had licences.
However, director of the Metropolitan Police in charge of the operation, Wayne le Roux, said: "The main focus is to take unroadworthy vehicles off the road as they pose a big danger."
The location of checkpoints was based on information the Metropolitan Police had, and that received from the public, he said.
In roadblocks held earlier this month, 16 vehicles were impounded, 388 citations were issued to unlicensed drivers and 13 people suspected of stealing vehicles were arrested.
Le Roux said the project was "a great success".
In various other operations launched since September, the Area Eastern Metropole Crime Combating Unit (ACCU) has also clamped down and made numerous arrests.
Of the 717 people arrested for serious crimes like murder, armed robbery and rape, 402 were for being in possession of illegal drugs.
Twenty unlicensed firearms and 14 stolen vehicles were also seized or recovered. The ACCU held 214 roadblocks and 399 foot patrols which saw a total of 12 251 people and 1 906 vehicles being searched.
Various drugs with an estimated street value of more than R200 000 were also seized.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on December 23, 2005
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