Grahamstown - Police in the Eastern Cape on Friday said they had restored order to Grahamstown after foreigners were attacked by mobs of looters in xenophobic violence.
Police said they had, through Operation Fiela, arrested four more suspects on Thursday and recovered a large amount of property believed to have been stolen when members of the Joza community in Grahamstown went on the rampage against foreigners.
Last week police arrested 97 suspects, including 10 juveniles, following the outbreak of violence. Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said: “Operation Fiela reclaimed order in the violence-stricken Grahamstown area on Thursday. Four suspects, aged between 28 and 49 years, were arrested on various charges including possession of suspected stolen property and possession of drugs. “Over 20 fridges and chest freezers were recovered.” Other stolen property recovered were household items, fencing and hardware.
The recovered property is believed to have been stolen when the community members started looting shops in the Joza and Grahamstown areas last week.
The suspects appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrates' Court and were remanded in custody. They will appear in court again on Friday on charges of public violence.
Grahamstown Cluster Commander, Brigadier Morgan Govender, said after the operation: “The objective of this operation was to reclaim order and recover the property which was looted last week. As the Cluster JOINTS we will continue to assist the displaced individuals as well as their families and provide them with the necessary support. I also make an urgent appeal to any person who has knowledge where any of the stolen property is being kept to contact their local SAPS or the Information can be shared through Crime Stop 08600 10 111 and Crime Line 32211, where all information will be treated as confidential.”
Meanwhile, Operation Fiela was also deployed in the KwaZakhele, KwaDwesi, New Brighton and Motherwell policing areas in Port Elizabeth, also in the Eastern Cape.
According to police, the day-long operation by various law enforcement agencies on October 29, saw 17 suspects arrested for various crimes, ranging from house robbery, car-jacking, assault GBH and assault common to kidnapping.
A total of 17 knives, two pangas and two toy guns were also confiscated, while 10 undocumented persons were also arrested. Traffic fines amounting to R3,900 were issued for violations ranging from driving without a license and unlicensed vehicle, while a special tracing operation on Thursday night saw 18 suspects, aged between 25 and 35, arrested for among other crimes, domestic violence, assault and possession of drugs.
“Operation Fiela continues to address crime and criminal activities in a structured and co-ordinated manner. We are determined to make the communities safer and free from criminals and criminal activities. We are also committed to rid our communities of knives and pangas which are used to attack people and result in murders, and also of the toy guns which are used to intimidate people during robberies,” said Major General Zamuthango Mki, Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Operations.
ANA