Female officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and various other law enforcement agencies in the Western Cape have delivered significant results in the province in an effort to fight crime.
According to Novela Potelwa, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier, “Tracing operations targeting wanted suspects for sexual offences, domestic violence, and gender-based violence (GBV) were carried out as part of Women’s Month activities in Cape Town.
The tracing operations started at 2am on the 21st of August and continued to midday, with 42 people arrested. Of the arrested suspects, 26 were wanted for rape, 10 for sexual assault, and six for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and attempted rape, she said.
“The objectives of the activities were to prevent crime, bringing perpetrators of crime to book, and much-needed awareness on crimes against women, children, and other vulnerable groups,” added Potelwa.
Western Cape SAPS commissioner, Lt-Gen Yolisa Matakata joined the women from SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), City of Cape Town metro police, and traffic services, as well as neighbourhood watches in executing the policing activities for the day.
An outreach programme at three old age homes in Steenberg and Retreat with humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers and women representatives from the law enforcement agencies also formed part of the day’s initiatives. Blankets and essential supplies were donated to the senior citizens at the Village Care Centre, and the Douglas Murray and Mandoline old age homes, said Potelwa.
