Mossel Bay Municipality in partnership with the Joint Operation Centre and other safety partners has exercised zero tolerance with alcohol abuse and alcohol use by drivers. This has been enforced by Traffic and Local Law Enforcement through regular vehicle checkpoints and increased deployment of local Law Enforcement staff on municipal roads, beaches, and popular holiday areas within the municipal area.

Mossel Bay Municipality’s community safety partner, the Joint Operation Centre’s (JOC) recently shared their statistics report which provides and overview of the number of incidents reported and dealt with by various stakeholders housed in the JOC. The most recent report covers the period May – December 2024.

Joint Operation further reports 166 footage requests, 5 stolen vehicle recoveries, 33 incidents of theft or robbery, and 43 arrests with the assistance of local, provincial, and national partners. The JOC has been involved in assisting the HAWKS and other Law Enforcement agencies with murder investigation, arson, and other violent crime.
There was also one incident of a vehicle searched and found to be involved in rhino poaching.

From May to December 2024, 1 incident of stabbing was reported, and 350 incidents of vagrants being removed were reported. Furthermore, 77 illegal hawkers were reported and 1202 incidents of By-Law related contraventions.

There were also 362 incidents where the Central Improvement District (CID) or Neighbourhood watch groups were involved called in for assistance. Furthermore, 65 incidents where the South Cape Security Network was called in for assistance were reported.

There have been 17 incidents of possible drunken driving reported and 279 incidents of obstructions to motor vehicles, with 81 accidents reported between May and December 2024.

As a result of the Joint Operation Centre’s CCTV surveillance, 367 incidents of suspicious persons have been reported, with three incidents of SAPS and Traffic or Local Law Enforcement being contacted as a result of CCTV evidence.

CCTV Surveillance also assisted with identifying 179 incidents of people under the influence on the streets, 47 incidents of potential drug abuse related incidents, 58 incidents of aggressive behaviour and resulted in 268 incidents of assistance by the Joint Operation Centre to other Mossel Bay departments and or SAPS.

Additionally, on Sunday, 5 January 2025, local Law Enforcement and Da Gamaskop SAPS in a partnership supported by the Joint Operation Centre conducted a special stop and search during which authorities made 3 arrests for possession of drugs and 1 arrest for possession of dangerous weapon.

Authorities Found:
7 x full mandrax pills
3 x ½ mandrax pills
3 x ¼ mandrax pills
6 x bankies tik

The search also found 219 bags of compressed dagga weighing 2241, 24 kilograms. Two vehicles were also searched by the K9 Unit on request from SAPS. Both searches were negative.

On Boxing Day, the Joint Operation Centre reported on the following successes as part of yearlong community safety efforts. In collaboration with Local Law Enforcement, nine section 56 notices were issued in De Bakke to the value of R10 500. In collaboration with Local Law Enforcement and Provincial Traffic services, 5 vehicles were suspended for unroadworthiness.

Local Law Enforcement performed 22 stop and check and 6 stop and search operations, as well as 2 searches executed in collaboration in KwaNonqaba Rural Safety Unit. The K9 Unit, in partnership with KwaNonqaba Rural Safety Unit, conducted a search for. Skool Street led by K9 Unit dog Mufasa, 12 bank bags of Methamphetamine (tik), and 1 full mandrax tablet were found. Cases have been opened at South African Police Services. The search also turned up cash to the amount of R1065.

Additionally, one woman was arrested for possession of narcotics.