A TOTAL of 307 suspects were arrested for various offences in the Ekurhuleni policing precinct from Friday, 15 September to Sunday, 17 September.
A total of 17 illegal liquor outlets were shutdown.
Police spokeswoman, Captain Neldah Sekgobela said the operations were conducted in Reiger Park on Friday morning, 15 September until in the afternoon, where 15 suspects were arrested for illegal mining and for being undocumented.
"Illegal mining equipment such as five water pump generators, three picks, 20 spades, gold bearing dust bag, threw plastic basin, four steel plates, 10 water pipes and garden tools were confiscated," she said.
Sekgobela said during an integrated Operation Shanela conducted in Tembisa from Saturday, 16 September until the early hours of Sunday morning, cops arrested 22 suspects for driving under the influence of liquor, 10 undocumented people and closed nine illegal liquor outlets.
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"Among the suspects, 145 suspects were arrested by detectives in district police stations on Saturday, while other suspects were arrested during integrated Operation Shanela comprising of SAPS members and other law enforcement agencies which were conducted by the stations within the district," she said.
Other suspects were arrested for cases such as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape, possession and dealing in drugs, malicious damage to property, fraud and shoplifting.
Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, Major-General Anna Sithole commended cops' efforts and encouraged the community to anonymously report illegal mining suspects.
