By Elijah Mhlanga
Spokesperson for Gauteng Provincial
Government
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) commends the police following the arrest of eleven (11) suspects and the seizure of a significant cache of illegal firearms and ammunition in Westonaria.
An operation involving South African Police Service (SAPS) units, in
collaboration with Sibanye Stillwater Mine Security, implemented a takedown that resulted in the arrest of eleven individuals, including nine Basotho nationals, one Mozambican national, and one South African citizen.
The suspects face serious charges, including multiple counts of possession of unlicensed firearms, harbouring undocumented persons, and defeating the ends of justice.
One of the suspects found in possession of the AK-47 is a person of interest in connection with the serious and violent Bekkersdal mass shootings that killed 9 people.
The provincial government also welcomes the arrest of the person who ran an illegal liquor outlet where these shootings took place.
The investigation into this outlet found serious violations, such as having fake
permits with the same reference numbers given to different people, wrong validity dates, and no official approval.
This event underscores the direct connection between unlicensed liquor
stores and serious crime and violence in our province.
The places that sell illegal alcohol often become hotspots for other
crimes and lead to gang violence and fights over territory that spill into
our streets.
They also represent massive tax evasion, health hazards, deprive the state of revenue for services, create unfair competition for lawful businesses, and foster corruption.
This operation demonstrates how strong partnerships between private security units and integrated law enforcement are critical in reclaiming our communities from the grip of lawlessness.
We urge community members to continue working with law enforcement by reporting illegal activities.
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