Alexandra police arrested 32 suspects in a single week on charges ranging from carjacking and illegal firearms possession to undocumented immigration, illegal evictions and drug dealing.

The arrests form part of the weekly crime feedback for the week ending August 30, delivered by Alexandra Station Commander Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane.

Even with the wave of arrests, two serious cases — including a murder on 10th Avenue and a business robbery at a Sasol garage — remain unsolved.

Read more: Police probe discovery of an unidentified body in Alexandra

Carjackings and violent crime

According to Ngubane, two carjackings occurred in sectors 2 and 3 between 18:00 and 23:00, a time window he identified as a hotspot for e-hailing drivers operating in Alexandra.

He said one suspect has been arrested and linked to previous cases, while investigators, assisted by a profiling and tracking team, continue searching for a second suspect.

Ngubane noted that police recorded a single case of murder after a man was fatally stabbed on 10th Avenue. He confirmed that no arrests have yet been made, and the investigation continues.

He further noted that an attempted murder case was opened after a stabbing incident at Two Boys Tavern on 13th Avenue.
He confirmed that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, which he described as alcohol-related.

Separately, Ngubane said a business robbery at a Sasol garage remains under investigation.

Firearm-related arrests

Police also arrested a suspect for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition during stop-and-search operations. Ngubane said the weapon was sent to ballistics for testing to establish possible links to murders and carjackings in sectors 2 and 3.

Another suspect was arrested for allegedly discharging a firearm in public in the Sector 2 area.

Also read: Meeting reveals crime challenges in Sector 3

Ngubane said such arrests contribute to reducing illegal firearm use and preventing further murders.

Illegal evictions and drug seizures

Ngubane also addressed a rise in complaints about tenants being illegally evicted from their rooms in Alexandra. Two suspects have been arrested on charges of extortion and illegal eviction, with further suspects already identified as the investigation continues.

He urged residents not to pay so-called ‘protection fees’ to those behind such schemes, and to report any such demands to the police.

A further six suspects were arrested for allegedly dealing in drugs during operations on 1st Street and 4th Avenue in sectors 2 and 3.

Ngubane revealed that nyaope and crystal meth were seized in the operations. He said tackling drug dealing is expected to help reduce contact crimes, noting that many robberies are committed to fund drug use.

In a joint operation with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), 20 undocumented immigrants were arrested in sectors 2 and 3, in the Pan Africa and Far East Bank areas.

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