More than 500 cyclists from various clubs and organizations gathered at Woodbridge Island to cycle to the Civic centre in an awareness ride highlighting safety concerns on the Cape Town, CBD to Milnerton route.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Woodstock police, in collaboration with City law enforcement, have arrested 23 suspects in a multi-disciplinary operation aimed at preventing robberies ahead of the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said the multi-disciplinary operation on the Lower Church Street bridge yielded various successes.
Cyclists have been well-known to use this route during the summer months as they train for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, which takes place on Sunday.
“On Wednesday, another multi-disciplinary operation… yielded various successes which include 23 arrests for undocumented persons and two drug related arrests. The two drug arrests are also undocumented persons.
“These operations will continue,” Van Wyk said.
Last month, strategic police patrols in Woodstock resulted in another suspect apprehended in connection with the robbery of cyclists.
Woodstock Crime Prevention Unit members had been deployed in civilian dress to do foot patrols in an area identified as a hotspot where often cyclists become victims of mugging.
Prior to this arrest, a robber met his match when his target happened to be a police officer.
In other successes this week, police said two Delft women were arrested in connection with the unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs.
“On Wednesday, at about 10:30am, members attached to Delft Crime Prevention Unit followed up on information received about firearms and drugs being stored at a premises in Balelas Street, N2 Gateway, Delft.
“Upon arrival at the mentioned address they found and seized a VZOR 763 pistol, a small quantity of different calibre rounds of ammunition and magazines as well as 2057 mandrax tablets, 49 tubes containing dagga, one packet of tik, one sachet cocaine, nine cellular telephones and four scales.”
The women, aged 32 and 39, are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrates court once charged.
Cape Times