MOPANI – The police in the Mopani area have, until Monday this week, arrested 53 suspects during Operation Yeka, which started last Tuesday. The focus area for the operation was the Calcata area. The operation was manned by female police officers.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the arrested suspects were among their long list of criminals who were wanted for crimes ranging from armed robbery, rape, housebreaking and theft and the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

According to the police statement, a large amount of liquor was confiscated during the raiding of shebeens. Two suspected stolen motor vehicles were also recovered during the operation. Other goods that were also recovered during the operation include radios, hi-fi's, television sets, cell-phones and videos.

The arrested suspects were still to appear in the various magisterial courts in the area at the time of going to the press. According to the statement, the operation will continue until the end of this month in honour of the government declaration of August as the month for women.

The statement further indicates that the female police officers in the area are eager to prove to the world that they can also do what their male colleagues do. The police thanked the residents of the Calcata area for the information they received from them, saying the operation was a success, due to the sound relationship between the police and the residents.