COPS had success during phase two of Operation Shanela in Diepkloof and Orlando West in Soweto on Thursday, 2 November.
This as 62 people were arrested.
Of the 62, 52 undocumented immigrants were arrested, one person was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition (a revolver with rounds of ammunition stolen in Free State in 2016), another suspect was arrested for possession of ammunition, while four suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs (crystal meth) and four were arrested for possession of drugs (cocaine).
Four unlicensed liquor outlets were also closed.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela was joined by senior management of SAPS and other law enforcement agencies as he led the operation.
Mawela said the operation aimed to stamp the authority of the state and help local police stations with the reduction of crime, while cops also look for stolen vehicles, unlicensed firearms and check if foreign nationals have their documents in order.
He said compliance inspections have in overall resulted in the arrest of over 800 known and wanted suspects across the province. He said the operation in Soweto focused on two stations, Orlando and Diepkloof.
ALSO READ| Man's late-night pork chow eats over 152 shacks
“These two police stations have done better and have reduced their crime in the last quarter. They have worked very hard to bring the levels of crime down to where they are right now. Previously, they were struggling, even the contact crimes have gone down in these two areas,” said Mawela.
The cops went on a walkabout at Ezimbuzini informal settlement for police visibility, but there were no arrests. Mawela engaged with community members on the challenges they face.
The Ezimbuzini area is known for its high contribution to Orlando's crime statistics.
More than 200 000 suspects have been arrested nationwide for various crimes since the launch of Operation Shanela in May 2023.
