People were seen running in all directions along Winnie Mandela Drive and Fourways Boulevards as law enforcement and security descended in a high-visibility operation on September 25.

Dust rose as vendors packed up their belongings and others fled the scene, a sign that the Fourways Improvement District (FID) is following through on its promise to clamp down on lawlessness in the area. Not so long ago, the district vowed to take visible action, and residents are already seeing the effects.

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The operation was spearheaded by the FID, in collaboration with SAPS, JMPD, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Fidelity, Night Guard, and other security companies. It kicked off at 10:00 with a parade at the Lonehill Fire Station, where officers and security teams mapped out their strategy before moving into hotspots, such as Sunrise and Sunset boulevards.

FID chairperson and ward councillor David Foley described the day as a very successful effort. “It was planned by the Fourways Improvement District, and what it entailed was a co-ordinated effort. I provided all the names to the Fidelity team, who were arranging it.”

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Foley confirmed that Gauteng traffic wardens were first deployed, to seal off all entry and exit points, after which SAPS, JMPD, and private security moved in. “The Gauteng traffic wardens went out first, and basically blocked off all the entrances in and around Sunrise and Sunset boulevards. Then the police, the JMPD, and the security companies came in. All the undocumented foreigners were put together, and they were taken by the police. All the vendors, all the illegal hawkers, they were all addressed by the JMPD.”

Confiscations were also made during the sweep. “I saw a whole lot of motorbikes, probably from the Uber drivers or others, that were confiscated in the back of the JMPD vans.”

Foley said he had chosen not to personally attend the raid, but remained closely informed. He added that more operations of this kind will follow. “It was very successful, and I’m hoping to have some more. We will continue our fight, as the Fourways Improvement District, to ensure that all laws are abided by in the precinct or in the district. We’re also growing the district away from the businesses into the complexes, and we’ll probably do a little story on that.”

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