Traffic Services Stats

City of Cape Town Traffic Officers arrested 72 suspects during weekend patrols and operations across the city this weekend.

On Sunday 14 April 2013, Officers conducted an operation focusing on illegal drag-racing in the Bellville, Mitchells Plain and Sea Point areas. Officers issued 1463 fines for various offences, including 1278 for speeding along Helen Suzman Boulevard, Vanguard Drive and Eisleben Road.

Also on Sunday, 22 suspects were arrested for drunk driving, at a roadblock held on Sulani and Bonga Roads, Site B, Khayelitsha, 39 other traffic fines were also issued.

On Friday 12 April and Saturday 13 April 2013, Officers implemented a general enforcement approach in Long Street, Cape Town, after complaints from business owners about general noise and traffic mayhem.

Officers worked from 22:00 to 06:00 on both nights and arrested 24 drunk drivers, four motorists for not having the required taxi permits and four more on a total of 38 outstanding warrants of arrest valued at R39 800,00. Furthermore, 11 vehicles were suspended due to unroadworthiness, and a further 436 traffic-related offences were recorded.

At the same time speed enforcement was performed on Table Bay Boulevard, De Waal Drive and Nelson Mandela Boulevard, where 2 037 speed offences were noted. The highest speeds recorded were 180km/h on Table Bay Boulevard and 138km/h on De Waal Drive.

On Friday 12 April, a roadblock on Steve Biko and Walter Sisulu Roads in Harare, Khayelitsha resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol. In addition, 50 traffic violations were also recorded.

On Thursday 11 April, Officers conducted general enforcement along Nelson Mandela Boulevard during the late peak, and impounded 29 cell phones during the operation. A further 249 traffic-related offences were recorded including 173 for disregarding the barrier line and 17 for failing to wear safety belts.

On the same day, speed enforcement was executed along the N2 near Raapenberg Road and Nelson Mandela Boulevard. During this operation 1080 speed offences were recorded.

Also on Thursday, an operation focussing on illegal drag racing was held in the Eerste River area. Two motorists were arrested for reckless driving, as well as another three on charges of drunk driving. A total of 21 additional traffic-related and 324 speed offences were noted.

Crackdown after officer shot dead

April 11 2013 at 08:18am

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INLSA

FLOODED: Two residents lie on the ground as Metro police search their homes in Lavender Hill for illegal goods. Metro police launched a two-week-long anti-crime operation yesterday to rid the area of drugs and illegal weapons. Photo: Brenton Geach

Jason Felix

CAPE TOWN Metro Police have retaliated after the murder of traffic officer Wesley Woodman in Lavender Hill by cracking down on drug dens, conducting foot patrols and searching vehicles – an operation set to continue for the next two weeks, making it the longest of its kind.

Yesterday morning – the first day of Operation Choke – two suspects were arrested for the illegal possession of dagga and tik.

The streets of Lavender Hill and Steenberg teemed with police cars as search warrants were executed at various homes. Residents filled the streets as police ran with sniffer dogs.

Woodman was gunned down by two men on Prince George Drive two weeks ago while he was issuing a traffic fine to motorist Shuaib Afradien, 26. Afradien was also killed. Two men have since been arrested.

Metro police chief Wayne Le Roux said Woodman’s death and recent shootings in the area were believed to be gang-related. Le Roux said they decided “to hit back” to send a clear message to gangs: “We will not back down.”

“The information we have received on the ground indicates that the warfare for drug turf will flare up again. We are bringing in more intelligence, deploying more officers to the area and will keep on doing visible patrols.

“We cannot allow our officers to be killed. We are trying our best to clamp down on guns especially… Taxis have become a target because people sit with drugs and guns in taxis.

“We will conduct roadblocks at all entrances to Lavender Hill in the hope of finding drugs,” he said.

Last week, Metro police confiscated three firearms – an AK47, a Z88 9mm handgun and a LM6 assault rifle.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said rewards for information leading to the confiscation of illegal goods would be tabled in the council at the end of the month.

The rewards will vary depending on the quality of the information. “Information that people provide needs to lead to an arrest or confiscation of illegal goods. Money is just print on old paper, people’s lives are worth much more,” he said.

Operation Choke includes traffic officers, the Special Investigating Unit and law enforcement officials. There will also be foot and dog patrols.

Lavender Hill resident Laura Brown, 58, said: “The drugs are a problem in this area. Our children are falling victim to gangs, and we parents are suffering.

“We need more police patrolling the streets, and the shebeens especially. The gangsters are travelling with us in taxis and buses. I don’t know how police will deal with that.”

jason.felix@inl.co.za

Late Wesley Richard Woodman RIP

 

 

 

 

 

News Channel

Traffic Services Stats

The City of Cape Town Highway Ghost Squad arrested six suspects for drunk driving and another suspect for reckless and negligent driving during routine patrols this weekend.

On Sunday morning 31 March 2013, during routine patrols along the N2 towards Somerset West, officers arrested three suspects for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor. One breathalyser test registered 0,91 mg of alcohol per 1 000ml of breath.

On Saturday morning 30 March 2013, an officer o the Highway Ghost Squad on a motor cycle arrested a suspect on the N2 at Bhunga Avenue for being under the influence of liquor when he overtook other motorists on the shoulder of the N2 towards Cape Town. The breathalyser test registered 0,92 mg of alcohol per 1 000ml of breath.

In the early hours of  Friday morning 29 March 2013, officers of the Highway Ghost Squad arrested an 18 year-old motorist for reckless and negligent driving when he came speeding past officers along Modderdam Road towards the N2. The suspect jumped 15 red traffic lights before  he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a lamp post along Turfhall Road in Hanover Park. It is alleged that the suspect was participating in an illegal street race along Modderdam Road in Bellville.

A few hours later, Officers noticed two vehicles on the incorrect side of the road along Vanguard Drive before Klipfontein Road in Athlone. When the suspects spotted the officers, they sped off on the incorrect side of the roadway. Both drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of liquor and reckless and negligent driving.
Traffic Services commenced Operation Exodus on Wednesday 27 March until Thursday 28 March 2013, to monitor all vehicles leaving Cape Town’s public transport interchanges.

Traffic Officers were dispatched to public transport interchanges, focusing on Joe Gqabi, Mfuleni, Cape Town Station and Bellville, so that they could patrol the areas and prevent illegal ranking. The Officers tested every vehicle that left Cape Town’s public transport interchanges for vehicle fitness. Any vehicles that were not declared roadworthy were suspended and prohibited from travelling further. Officers also ensured that all driver and vehicle documentation was in order prior to the vehicle’s departure.

A record will be kept of all public transport vehicles leaving public transport interchanges and this information is shared with other Departments and key role-players. Such information-sharing is crucial because it allows Traffic Services to keep a record of the trip schedule and any roadworthy checks that have already been performed.

As part of the operation, officers screened vehicle loads, especially those of trailers. Any vehicles suspected of over-loading were taken to the nearest weighbridge and goods were off-loaded if necessary.

Cop, motorist gunned down

 

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 7:28 AM

A Cape Town traffic officer and a motorist were shot dead on Wednesday in Lavender Hill, Cape Town, Western Cape police said.

A double murder case was being investigated, Captain Frederick van Wyk said.

Two men shot the driver of a Toyota Corolla on Prince George Drive at around 9am, as well as the officer issuing him with a traffic fine. The driver — who some reports have identified as a local gangster — died on the scene.
Wesley Woodman, the 35-year-old traffic officer who stopped the car, was rushed to hospital. He died on Wednesday afternoon.

City of Cape Town safety and security mayoral committee member JP Smith said the officer had stopped the Toyota for a broken tail-light, and that the men had approached him from behind. He said at the time that two men had apparently been arrested.

Smith said should no arrests be forthcoming, the city would offer a reward for information and get the special investigating unit on the case.

Acting mayor Ian Neilson said Woodman would be remembered as a man who was targeted while ensuring the law was obeyed in Cape Town. Woodman was a senior traffic officer with 14 years of experience. His service firearm was stolen in the attack.

Killed on Duty

 

• Cape Argus
• natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

  Traffic officer Wesley Woodman flags down motorist – then both are shot dead

A TRAFFIC officer and motorist were shot dead in broad daylight yesterday in Prince George Drive in the latest deadly gang violence in Lavender Hill.

Wesley Woodman, a traffic officer, had pulled Shuaib Afradien over at about 10am and was issuing him a ticket when both were gunned down.

Arafdien was allegedly a member of the Junkie Funkies gang.

Deputy mayor Ian Neilson said: “Officer Woodman, a traffic officer for 14 years, was issuing a traffic fine to a motorist when shots were fired by unknown assailants – killing the motorist and wounding the officer in the head.

“Woodman was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital, where he later died due to the severity of his injuries.”

Woodman’s service firearm was stolen during the incident.

“On behalf of the residents of Cape Town, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to his family, who have tragically lost a husband and father.

“I condemn this senseless act and the callous and cruel behaviour of the perpetrators,” Neilson said.

Ironically a month ago, on February 21, Woodman wrote about the loss of a colleague and friend on his Facebook page:

“Another friend! Another colleague... gone! How many more do we have to lose! My family in law enforcement, we all grieve together, we all bleed together! Again I recite the officers’ prayer! Take care, My Family!”

Woodman was married with three children.

Kevin Southgate, chairman of the community police forum, said it was sad that an officer of the law was shot when he was only doing his job.

“It shows how vulnerable police were distraught while standing at the murder scene, declined to comment. But his former girlfriend and mother of two of his children, Natalie Rhodes, sat teary-eyed at her home in Lavender Hill.

Her sister, Natasha, said that while Arafdien had been a member of the Junkie Funkies, he was also a good person.

“Every Sunday he came to visit and fetch cake from my mom.”

Another sister, Crystal, said it was sad his children would grow up without knowing their father.

“We grew up together. He was quiet and came from a decent family.”