The participation of SAPS members in the Joe Gqabi District in the interprovincial cross border high density operations yielded significant successes over a three day period from 24-26 February 2026.
The operations were held simultaneously in the Eastern, Western, Northern and Free State provinces. Police from the various specialized units and other stakeholders within the district formed part of the operations. Intensive patrols with high visibility could be seen in the hotspot areas. The focus areas included checking for stolen vehicles, vehicles conveying stock, possession of drugs and unlicensed firearms, the unroadworthiness of vehicles and drunken driving.
Daily roadblocks and vehicle check points were held in Venterstad on the R58, Steynsburg R56, Sterkspruit at R726 and R393 to Thaba Lesoba and Aliwal North at the Hertzog Bridge N6. The second hand goods and spaza shops as well as liquor outlets were visited for compliance inspections.
The District also extended the operation up to the Elundini municipality area and focused at the stations of Nqanqarhu (Maclear) and Tlokoeng (Mount Fletcher ).
The following successes were achieved during the operations:
541 persons and their luggage searched
823 Vehicles searched
112 traffic fines were issued to the value of R 83 350 -00.
EHP issued 15 fines to the value of R 8120- 00 and groceries were confiscated.
10 undocumented persons were arrested by immigration officials.
During the operation members of the POP unit followed up on positive information of suspected drug dealers . In three unrelated cases in Hilton ,Maletswai town and Maletswai locality three suspects all age 44 were arrested and tik to the value of R220 000-00 was confiscated.
In Sterkspruit an illegal liquor outlet was busted for selling liqour without a licence. 55 920 ml of alcohol were confiscated. During a roadblock in the Sterkspruit area a suspicious vehicle was stopped and checked and positively identified as stolen at the Ratanda policing area.
At the roadblock in our Steynsburg policing area a truck was stopped and searched and 3200 counterfeit tablets with a street value of R5500-00 were confiscated. In an unrelated case a second truck was stopped and upon searching 8600 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes to the value of R 17 200 -00 were confiscated.
The District Commissioner, Major General Lindelwa Vellem extended her gratitude to all the unit members and external roleplayers for their outstanding dedication and commitment during the operation. ‘The professionalism, teamwork, and tireless efforts were instrumental in ensuring the success of the operations,’ added Major General Lindelwa Vellem. #CrossBorderCrimes
Interprovincial cross-border high-density operations in the Joe Gqabi Districthttps://t.co/oJ1J1Vfo0m#ArriveAlive #Enforcement @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/RfyffxtWRf
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 2, 2026
