The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the North West Province continues to intensify the fight against crime through weekly high-density operations conducted across all districts.
During the latest operations, carried out from Monday, 2 March 2026 to Sunday, 8 March 2026, police members, supported by other law enforcement agencies, conducted roadblocks, stop-and-searches, vehicle checkpoints, compliance inspections at liquor outlets and patrols in crime hotspot areas.
The operations resulted in the arrest of 1 163 suspects for various offences, including possession of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of dangerous weapons, possession of illegal explosives and other serious crimes.
In addition, detectives arrested 391 suspects during tracing operations for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, house robbery, business robbery, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), rape and other sexual offences.
Furthermore, 37 fines were issued for dealing in liquor without a licence, while 20 undocumented persons were also arrested.
Police also confiscated drugs (mandrax tablets, mandrax powder, nyaope and cocaine), explosives, five handguns, one rifle, three vehicles, more than 600 litres of fuel, gold dust, mining equipment, cash and 2 129 litres of alcohol.
In the early hours of Friday morning, 6 March 2026, Potchefstroom Flying Squad members conducted routine patrol duties and stopped a Toyota Rumion on the N12 for a search. Copper cable weighing 417 kg, with an estimated value of more than R80 000, was found in the boot of the vehicle. This led to the arrest of four suspects who could not account for the possession thereof.
Khulekani Goodenough Ndletshe (33), Zithulele Motopi (32), a Lesotho national, Bokang Henry Ramollo (33) and Daniel Kabedi Gatyane (24) appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 March 2026, on charges of tampering with and/or damaging essential infrastructure. Motopi was also charged with contravention of the Immigration Act. The accused were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Monday, 16 March 2026.
On Saturday morning, 7 March 2026, members of the Mahikeng Tactical Response Team (TRT) operationalised information received about a suspected stolen vehicle that was allegedly to be smuggled across the border into Botswana. The team proceeded to Unit 15 in Mmabatho, where a Toyota Fortuner, allegedly reported stolen in Pretoria during February 2026, was recovered.
Two suspects, Lulama Tiyani Ngobeni (23) and Allen Samuel Reynolds (62), were arrested and appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 March 2026, for possession of suspected stolen property. The duo will remain in custody until their second court appearance on Friday, 13 March 2026. Investigations also revealed that Allen Reynolds has an outstanding warrant of arrest issued against him for a similar case reported in Lehurutshe.
#fightingcrime #TrioCrimes
