A police crackdown in Woodstock has led to the arrest of suspects following complaints from the community and businesses about antisocial behaviour, drug abuse, drug peddling, prostitution, robberies and business break-ins.
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said they, along with other law enforcement agencies, executed a legally authorised cordon and search warrant in the area’s Railway and Mascani streets.
“During the execution of the warrant by the multidisciplinary forces, 50 suspects, comprising 21 women and 29 men, were arrested for trespassing on Prasa property, and two suspects for being in possession of burnt
copper cables with an estimated weight of 60kg, a plastic bank bag containing tik, as well as a Dell laptop and a variety of equipment used in the abuse of drugs,” said Van Wyk.
He said police had determined during preliminary investigations that one of the suspects had been wanted on a warrant of arrest for an outstanding case dating back to 2017.
“The operation was conducted after community and businesses in the closest perimeter of Mascani informal settlement logged various complaints about antisocial behaviour, drug abuse, drug peddling, prostitution, robberies and business break-ins.
“All the arrested suspects are due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court,” said Van Wyk
He added that SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Khombinkosi Jula had been pleased with the success and had expressed his appreciation to all the officers, “who unconditionally” braced the cold weather to restore and maintain law and order in the crime-affected area.
Jula had vouched that high-density, concentrated operations of that nature would be ongoing to
ensure the safety and security of all inhabitants and visitors to the
Woodstock policing
precinct.