Pretoria - Operation Platinum Belt has brought stability and safety in Rustenburg and the surrounding crime hotspots, according to police.
The operation is aimed at ensuring safety in the areas affected by the five-month long platinum industrial action and the ongoing service delivery protests.
About 700 personnel from various units within the country have been deployed in the Platinum Belt for three months to reduce the levels of crime and to assess and monitor situation on the ground.
Since the start of the operation on 16 June 2014, police have apprehended wanted suspects, robbers and drug dealers.
They have also recovered stolen firearms, stolen goods, various drugs, stolen motor vehicles, counterfeit cigarettes, explosives, copper cable wires and also issued a number of fines for road traffic offences and contravention of the by-laws, according to North West Police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone
Over the weekend, police arrested 51 people for drug-related crimes, 16 for contravention of National Road Traffic Act, 8 for possession of stolen property, and five for driving while under influence of Liquor.
In one of drug related cases, a 21-year-old Nigerian national was found in possession of “CAT” powder on Saturday, along R510 road near Ramochana. The suspect is due to appear in Rustenburg Magistrate Court soon. - SAnews.gov.za
