At 09:00 yesterday, Law Enforcement Officers conducted an operation in Bellville focusing on vagrants under the Bellville Bridge next to the taxi rank. During this operation, without warning or reason a 30 year old female attacked one of the officers with a knife and stabbed him in the stomach. The same woman then bit a second officer on the forearm.
The culprit was swiftly arrested by back-up officers and the injured officers were both taken to hospital for medical attention.
The woman has been detained at Bellville Police Station on charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She will appear in court shortly. The officers are both in a stable condition.
The day before, while conducting a routine visit to an Elsies River Scrapyard, a member of the City’s Copperheads unit noticed suspicious activity involving a City of Cape Town vehicle and two adult males.
The Copperheads investigated and learned that the two suspects were in fact City employees, and had sold City property to the scrapyard.
After confirmation that the items were stolen the Copperheads confiscated the stolen goods, valued at R8000, for which the suspects received less than R800. The suspects were arrested and detained at Elsies River Police Station.
The suspects will shortly appear in the Goodwood Magistrate Court on charges of possession and trading of stolen goods, as well as theft.
In another incident, late on the same day the Copperheads responded to a tip-off about suspicious activity in Philippi. Upon arrival they caught a 39 year old male red-handed in a trench cutting electrical cable with the aim of stealing it.
The Copperheads confiscated a hacksaw and spade and arrested the suspect. He was detained at Philippi Police Station and will shortly appear in the Wynberg Magistrate Court on a charge of attempted theft and malicious damage to property.
The cost of the damage caused is unknown at this stage.
The vandalism and theft of infrastructure is a serious concern and the City’s Copperheads have a zero tolerance approach towards this crime. The City would like to thank the community for their support and for being its eyes and ears in instances like these. It is important to emphasise that the City will take action against anyone caught stealing or vandalising City infrastructure.
The Copperheads can be contacted on 0800 222 771 if residents would like to report suspicious activities.
