12 young people arrested for stone-throwing
Twelve young people were arrested for stone throwing - and the Mitchell’s Plain police station commander has reiterated that police are also investigating the role of the parents who themselves could face arrest.
At about 4pm on Wednesday August 18, members of the Mitchell’s Plain SAP Crime Prevention Unit were conducting patrols when they were informed of stone-throwing in Alpine Street, Eastridge.
At the scene, Mitchell’s Plain SAPS encountered a large gathering of community members who informed them that young people had been throwing stones and that they had the names of some of those responsible.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 12 young people aged 14 to 17, at a house in Olive Street, Eastridge.
They face charges of public violence.
Mitchell’s Plain Station Commander Brigadier Cass Goolam said he would look at arresting the parents who allowed and encouraged their children to participate in the stone-throwing. There have already been several reports of damage to property and vehicles in the area, as well as injuries, he said.
Earlier this month, a young person was stabbed in Tafelsig and five young people were arrested for attempted murder relating to another stone throwing incident (“Stone throwing still a problem in Tafelsig”, Plainsman, August 18).
SAPS is now calling on the community to come forward with the names and addresses of the stone-throwers and are also following up information that there may be gang involvement.
Police also arrested two men for two separate incidents of housebreaking in Tafelsig and Portland.
The suspect arrested in connection with the first incident, which took place in the early hours of Monday August 16, faces a additional charges of attempted murder and theft after he shot a woman in her leg and stole her handbag.
The incident happened at 3am while the woman and her family were sleeping. They were woken by a loud banging and the sound of breaking glass at their home in Andes Street, Tafelsig.
When the family went outside of the house, the woman noticed a man hanging on the wall ready to jump over. A second man shot at the woman, wounding her in the leg. They noticed that her handbag containing an ID book, bank cards and cellphone had been stolen. A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of a man, 32.
In separate incident, a 28-year-old man broke into a house in Portland on Wednesday August 18.
The resident had left his home in Durban Way, Portland at 6:30am that day and when he returned home at 6:50pm, he discovered that his cellphone and a pair of shoes had been stolen. It appeared that entry had been gained through an open window.
Police investigations led to the arrest of a man, 28, for charges in connection with housebreaking and theft.
Police also recently arrested three people for drug possession.
On Wednesday August 18, at 9:40am, Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit members received information about drug dealing at a house in Rockies Street, Tafelsig.
When they searched the premises, police found a bag containing 80g of cocaine and arrested a man, 27, who faces charges relating to drug dealing.
Two days before, police had arrested another man who was found in possession of dagga and magic mushrooms.
On Monday August 16 at 9:30am Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit members received information that drugs were being sold at a house in Hammerkop Street, Rocklands.
Upon searching the premises, police found 11 bags of dagga, one 1.5kg bag of compressed dagga and a bag containing magic mushrooms. Police arrested a man, 28, who faces charges relating to the dealing in drugs.
A woman was also arrested for possession of drugs on Saturday August 14 after Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit received information that drugs were being sold and firearms stored at a house in Harvester Way, Westridge.
When police searched a woman, 41, on the premises, they found 93 packets of tik on her. She was arrested and faces charges relating to drug dealing.