“Crime prevention operations to Intensify in the Inner-City” – Mashaba
14 suspects were arrested after a crime prevention operation was conducted in the Inner-City Suburbs of Yeoville, Hillbrow and Berea.
One hijacked property and Wimbledon Court was targeted during the operation. The operation was led by the South African Police Service (Saps) Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Deliwe De Lange in conjunction with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) Unit, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Department of Home Affairs, the City’s Environmental Health and Social Development Departments and Emergency Management Services (EMS).
A total of four suspects were arrested for illegal possession of drugs, one suspect was arrested for being in possession of a dangerous weapon, five suspects for dealing in second-hand goods without a valid certificate, one for drunk driving and three undocumented foreign nationals were also arrested.
15 warnings of non-compliance to EMS by-laws were also issued and 0,078kg of dagga, a toy gun and nyaope pipes were found abandoned.
“We are going to intensify these multi-stakeholder raids. Criminals must know that they might run but there is no place for them to hide in Johannesburg,” said City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba.
The City has conducted an audit of 500 bad buildings, of which about 300 are confirmed as hijacked. The total number of properties that have been handed back to the rightful owners is 22. 15 property hijackers have been arrested.
“It is essential that we bring back the rule of law to our City and take it back from the criminal elements such as landlords who take advantage of desperate people and house them under deplorable conditions.
We are committed to ensuring that we stop the rot in our inner city and make it a prosperous and inclusive place for our people to live work and play.
I would like to thank all the role players involved in yesterday’s successful operation.
“I would also like to thank Lieutenant-General Deliwe de Lange for her commitment in addressing the challenge we are faced with by establishing a dedicated team that will investigate property hijackings in conjunction with the City,” Mashaba concluded.
