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Within a three-day period, the Lejweleputswa police hit hard at drug dealers and community members who were meting out mob justice on an alleged thief.
On 21 April, the police managed to rescue one of two alleged burglary suspects from angry residents. The two were then promptly arrested by the police.
Members of the Welkom Public Order Policing (POP), led by WO Thabo Booy, were on their way to the Vuyo Charles Stadium, Thabong, to monitor the Inkatha Freedom Party rally when they passed the angry mob gathered in 2010 Village in Thabong.
The residents claimed that the man they were accosting had broken into someone’s home and stolen a cellphone and pairs of shoes.
“The residents were sternly warned not to take the law into their own hands, otherwise they will be arrested,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police.
“He was rescued and volunteered to show the police where he had sold the other stolen items. The second suspect was found with the suspected stolen items. The first suspect (26), was arrested for housebreaking and theft, and the second suspect (28) is facing charges of possession of suspected stolen items. Pairs of shoes and a cellphone were seized,” says Thakeng.
The duo appeared in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 23 April.
Also on 21 April, members of the Welkom Anti-Gang unit followed up on information about drugs in Phomolong, Hennenman.
They arrested a 38-year-old man in possession of sachets containing 67 full, seven half, and 19 quarter Mandrax drug tablets, along with 20 crystal meth sachets and cash amounting to R918,50.
At another house they arrested a 37-year-old man with 12 full Mandrax tablets, with cash that amounts to R340 in his possession. They appeared in the Hennenman Magistrates’ Court on 23 April.
In Kutloanong on 20 April, members of the Welkom Anti-Gang unit obtained search warrants for identified houses where drugs are purportedly sold.
They approached a house in the K9 Section of Kutloanong. The gate was locked and the men standing outside of the house demanded a warrant.
Inside of the house, a woman tried to hide the drugs in the ceiling but she was caught red-handed and drugs were found hidden inside the door frame.
The police arrested the people aged 37, 39, and 45 years for possession of 79 heroin sachets, and one heroin ball weighing 41,5 g.
The unit then proceeded to a house in K6 Section, Kutloanong, where a 40-year-old was arrested for possession of two heroin sachets.
The suspects were arrested and appeared in the Odendaalsrus Magistrates’ Court on 22 April.
Lastly on 19 April, the Welkom K9 unit and Free State Counter Narcotics team arrested a man in Dagbreek, Welkom, with a stash of Mandrax tablets and crystal meth worth about R300 000.
The drugs included eight packets containing 1 000 Mandrax tablets and crystal meth samples each, an undisclosed amount of cash notes, a birth certificate, a driver’s licence, and an identity document. A 32-year-old suspect appeared in Welkom Magistrates’ Court on 22 April.
