Overstrand, Swartland and Mossel Bay K-9 and Rural Safety Units operations

The Overstrand and Swartland Rural Safety Units (RSUs), along with their and the Mossel Bay K-9 units are continuing to make inroads into the fight against crime in their respective areas. Between 15 to 27 August 2023, these units with the assistance of various other municipal law enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service (SAPS), arrested thirty-two (32) individuals for a variety of crimes. Of these, sixteen (16) were apprehended in the Overstrand municipal area, five (5) in the Mossel Bay region and eleven (11) in the Swartland.

The Mossel Bay K-9 unit, who has not officially been launched yet, had operations in the Kleinbrak Rivier, Kwanonqaba and harbour areas. One of the unit’s five arrests was for housebreaking, while the unit also confiscated a large quantity of electrical wires and cables.

Amongst others, the Swartland arrests, which occurred in Malmesbury and Porterville included:

• x3 dealing in drugs,
• x3 possession of drugs and
• x2 possession of dangerous weapons.

The units also confiscated:

• x2 mandrax tablets,
• x2 half mandrax tablets,
• x3 quarter mandrax tablets,
• x24 small zipper bags containing tik and
• large quantities of liquor.

The Overstand arrests included:

• x1 for possession of a dangerous weapon,
• x2 for the possession of abalone and
• x5 wanted suspects.

This unit confiscated:

• x461 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R 86 233.00.
• diving equipment consisting of flippers and a pouch bag and
• stolen equipment, consisting of a flatscreen tv, remote, knife, diving booties, screw drivers, caps, gloves, x4 cellphones and memory sticks.

Marcellino Martin, spokesperson to the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen said: “We commend our K-9 and Rural Safety units for the continued manner in which they are assisting us in creating safer communities throughout the Western Cape. It is important to us that criminals and all their illicit activities are brought to their knees. Not only do we want to halve the murder rate by 2029, but we want all of our residents to live in dignity and peace, and without fear.”