Seven arrested during illegal street racing event in Bellville South
The City's Traffic Service’s Ghost and Random Breath Testing Units disrupted the illegal gathering in Bellville South – intercepting two racing motorists who were arrested for reckless and negligent driving.
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Seven people who were caught at an illegal street racing gathering in Bellville South have been arrested by City officials.
The Traffic Service’s Ghost and Random Breath Testing Units disrupted the illegal gathering of more than 500 people on Sunday night, and arrested two drivers and five others for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Officers also patrolled another known hotspot on Jakes Gerwel Drive in Athlone, but the area was quiet.
"Illegal street racing continues to feature as one of the many challenges that our staff have to deal with. I want to commend the officers for their swift action in breaking up this gathering, but the reality is that these illegal actions are commonplace and a source of frustration and danger to surrounding communities and other road users," said mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
Separately, Traffic Officers recorded 60 arrests - 52 for driving under the influence of alcohol, five for reckless and negligent driving and three for other offences.
Smith said officers recorded 65 603 transgressions, impounded 142 public transport vehicles and executed 645 warrants of arrest.
Metro Police Officers made 110 arrests and issued 5 367 traffic and by-law fines.
Smith said in one of the incidents, a CCTV operator spotted a suspect handling a firearm and placing it in a backpack.
"Metro Police officers were dispatched to investigate and on searching the suspect, they recovered an imitation firearm. The 26-year-old was detained at Grassy Park SAPS.
"On the same day, officers recovered another imitation firearm, one live round of ammunition and a small amount of mandrax and cocaine after responding to reports of shots fired in Vlei Road in Belgravia. A 34-year-old male was arrested and detained at Athlone SAPS.
"The Anti-Hijacking Unit, meanwhile, recovered at least six vehicles over the long weekend. Two stolen vehicles were found stripped in an informal settlement in Philippi; a third stolen vehicle was recovered along Edinburgh Drive in Bishop’s Court and three others that had been hijacked in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni," said Smith.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 638 calls for assistance this past weekend.
Of the calls received, 86 were physical assault related cases, 39 domestic violence cases, 224 noise nuisance complaints and 18 complaints about drinking and fighting in public. Call agents also dispatched assistance to 48 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.