Johannesburg - Thirty-three illegal shebeens across Gauteng have been shut down over the weekend, police said on Sunday.
“In an effort to deal with crimes mostly committed during the festive season including murder, rape, assaults, common robbery and domestic violence, police closed 33 illegal shebeens believed to be generators of crime,” Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.
“Liqour valued at thousands of rands, fridges, music systems and generators were seized in Krugersdorp, Kagiso, Randfontein, Thembisa and Ivory Park.”
Nineteen shebeens were closed on the North Rand and 14 on the West Rand.
Dlamini said 162 people were also arrested for crimes relating to theft, possession of drugs, stolen and counterfeit goods, assault and dealing in liquor without a licence.
They will appear in court on Monday.
Police also seized 18 knives, 279 boxes of illegal cigarettes, eight handguns, 288 Mandrax tablets, 800 counterfeit DVDs and four kilograms of stolen copper cable. - Sapa