Mayor in swoop on crime
SEVERAL suspected drug dens were raided in Pretoria West yesterday.
Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga led members of the Tshwane metro police department (TMPD), the SAPS and Home Affairs Department officials on a crime-combating operation targeting ills that also included illegally built structures and electricity connections.
“What is more shocking here is the conditions that people (tenants) are living in.
“This place is smelling so badly because people are crammed into small spaces. We have found that one person or a group of people own quite a significant number of these illegally built properties,” Msimanga said.
“We estimate that they make close to a R1 million a month, without paying the municipality a cent. That is something we cannot tolerate. We are going to close them down.”
Inside high perimeter walls characteristic of the Pretoria West area, shacks and cottages have been constructed in most of the backyards, accommodating thousands of low-income earners. Other backyards have been converted into makeshift vehicle repair centres, flooded with damaged cars.
At one of the houses, police found drugs in a man’s pocket. The suspect insisted that the drugs were not his but had been planted on him by the arresting TMPD officer.
“Moments ago, my pockets were empty. Suddenly I have drugs. These things are not mine. The police officer put them on me,” shouted the man.
Illegal connections of electricity and water were commonplace in the area, with loose cables running from one house to the other. Municipal trucks were called in and began disconnecting the houses from the grid.
“Unfortunately, this means people are going to be inconvenienced. We are going to give people notices. We have to deal with the issue of illegally connected water as well,” said Msimanga, who was accompanied by senior Tshwane officials such as MMC for Community Safety Alderman Derrick Kissoonduth.
By 2pm the blitz, dubbed Operation Tshwelopepe, had netted successes including:
Thirteen undocumented foreign nationals.
One person arrested for having a fraudulent driving licence.
One person arrested on suspicion of dealing in drugs.
Fourteen vehicles impounded. Six car bodies impounded. Two food trailers impounded.
Three illegal electricity connections; residences charged and cut from the grid.
Two premises were closed down due to non-compliance with the fire brigade’s regulations.