The South African Police Service (SAPS) says its nationwide Easter operations have delivered a major crackdown on crime, with thousands of arrests and illegal weapons seized.
More than 700 people were arrested for selling alcohol without licenses, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
Authorities also confiscated 132 illegal firearms and more than 1 000 rounds of ammunition, with KZN recording the highest number of handgun confiscations.
Police have raised concerns over drunk driving saying more than 1 400 drivers were arrested.
Police Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says they also shut down 532 illegal taverns for non-compliance of the Liquor Act.
“Meaning they didn’t have a valid license to operate. We know that a lot of crime happens in those illegal establishments. You know, the assault GBH, we had arrested more than 1 300, a lot of the assault GBH and some of the murders, some of the assaults, they are happening in those establishments. And mostly the mass shootings, when we attend to a mass shooting, we find that either the tavern owner is not in compliance with the Liquor Act or they do not have papers at all.”
