Police in Naledi, Soweto, arrested 20 people during a raid of liquor outlets on Tuesday.
The joint operation between SAPS and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) was in preparation for a safer festive season.
Authorities say they want to ensure a safer holiday season for residents.
They visited all liquor outlets in Naledi to check compliance. Some businesses were closed, others fined and their alcohol confiscated.
At least 20 people were arrested for crimes ranging from murder, malicious damage to property, theft, common assault, shoplifting, common robbery and drunk driving.
They will be appearing in court from today. – Report by Jozi FM’s Moshe Maswanganyi
All eyes are on the Boksburg Magistrate Court, in Ekurhuleni, where five suspects in the murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa will be appearing on Tuesday.
The accused were arrested on Monday, the same day Meyiwa was killed six years ago.
Police have hailed the breakthrough as a result of a multi-disciplinary integrated approach.
They say they worked closely with the Directorate for Public Prosecutions.
Police suspect that the murder was premeditated with Police Minister, saying more arrests are imminent.
AfriForum has hailed this breakthrough as historic.
“In this day we will remember it’s 6 ago when the tragedy happened. Senzo Meyiwa was brutally murdered and since then I think people in the country have wanted to see justince being done. I think its significant that now we are seeing justice being done.”
The organisation’s private prosecuting unit assisted the police in the matter.
Private prosecutor Gerrie Nel says they will be pushing for the arrest of the mastermind behind the murder.
The Meyiwas are also anxious to see the person behind the murder put behind bars.
Meyiwa’s brother, Sfiso told the media on Monday: “Although we are grateful of the arrest made, we remain anxious that the mastermind was not arrested.”
However, he says, they remain hopeful that more arrests will follow soon.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated the South African Police Service for the breakthrough.
“Today is a day on which we revisit the sadness that affected millions of us as South Africans when we lost Senzo Meyiwa in 2014. But this anniversary is mitigated by the arrest of five suspects who have been unable to escape the reach of the law, regardless of the passage of time. We congratulate the police for their hard work and persistence. We must now allow the criminal justice system and the judiciary to do their work and handle this matter to finality,” the President said in a statement.
Two of the suspects were nabbed in Gauteng while the other three were found in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Orlando Pirates goalkeeper was killed in October 2014 at his girlfriend’s home in Vosloorus, in Ekurhuleni.
The slow pace in apprehending his killers drew the ire of many South Africans as he had allegedly been shot in full view of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo, her sister, the sister’s then boyfriend who is said to be Chicco Twala’s son – Longwe, and the women’s mother.
Longwe was accused of having pulled the trigger, a claim he has denied.
There were also allegations of a possible police cover-up.
Meyiwa’s father died with a broken heart in July last year, calling for justice for his son.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has condemned the shooting of the principal of Somashi High School in Msinga, uMzinyathi District.
The school principal was allegedly gunned down in his office on Friday, in full view of learners and educators.
Those suspected of involvement have been arrested.
“As the KZN Education Department, we strongly condemn this barbaric act as school principals are regarded as mentors and guardians to learners. We maintain a tough stance towards any form of violent crime in our education system,” says MEC Kwazi Mshengu.
He is hopeful that justice will prevail.
“A delegation of senior departmental officials have already been dispatched to the school to gather more information and provide the necessary support. ”
The principal’s killing isn’t the first at the school. In 2010, a teacher was gunned down in front of his living quarters within the school premises. That incident had come weeks after a principal was stoned to death at Muden, also in Umsinga.
A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with last week’s chaos at the Senekal Magistrate’s Court.
He is a second suspect in the violence that erupted at the court when the two men accused of killing 21-year-old farm manager, Brendin Horner, first appeared in court.
Police Ministry spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba, announced the news last night in a tweet.
[JUST IN] Another suspect has been arrested for the riotous acts that took place in #Senekal last week. A 33 yo male is charged with attempted murder, public violence,arson ,malicious injury to property. He is due to appear in court on Monday 19 October 2020.
The arrest happened on the same day Sekwetje Mahlamba (32) and Sekola Matlaletsa (44) made their second appearance in court to apply for bail.
The matter has been postponed to Tuesday, where the investigating officer is expected to be cross-examined.
State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, the Police Minister Bheki Cele and EFF leader Julius Malema attended the court proceedings, which were marked by tensions between rival protesting groups.
Following the adjournment of the bail application in #BrandinHorner murder case, Police Minister Gen Bheki Cele is pleased about how police have handled events in #Senekal saying “No one came here to fight or incite violence and all leaders tried their best to call for calm.” pic.twitter.com/j3Nt8C11PN
