Graceland residents question SAPS after mass arrests

Graceland residents expressed their concerns to Ekurhuleni District SAPS senior officers following the arrest of 186 people during the multidisciplinary Operation Shanela.

The operation, hosted by the Elsburg SAPS policing precinct, had three components: detective tracing operations, roadblocks, and community visibility. These included patrolling, by-law enforcement, and community engagement in Graceland.

Roadblocks and stop-and-search operations saw people arrested for various crimes.

The accomplishments stem from two days of operations that began May 14, with investigators/detectives around the district tracking down people wanted for crimes.

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On May 15, criminal intelligence officers apprehended a person for having an unlicensed handgun with ammunition, a blank gun and an air gun.

Officers arrested three people for having drugs and another for dealing in liquor without a licence.

Ekurhuleni District SAPS senior officers, brigadiers Albertina Vesi, Ntombizini Thethe and Raymond Buthelezi, took the operations comprising the SAPS, the CPF, Gauteng Traffic, the Gauteng crime prevention wardens, the Siyabangena patrollers, security officers, a taxi task team and other stakeholders on Thursday to the Elsburg policing precinct.

This led to the apprehension of seven illegal immigrants, six found with drugs and five for dealing in liquor without a licence. Officers also closed five illegal liquor outlets.

Vesi said they held the operation in Elsburg because the district had recognised a spike in contact and trio crimes cases.

“Officers arrested 120 people for contact crimes, 10 for contact-related crimes, 11 for property crimes and 40 for GBV,” said Vesi.

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“GBV cases still require more intervention and education on the subject. Contact crimes in the neighbourhood are increasing due to routine attacks.

“Most cases are within families, but we have worked closely with the CPF, who are active throughout the community,” said Vesi.

Besides the activities in Elsburg, the SAPS held an imbizo in Graceland to speak to the community, address issues of crime and policing in the area, and give commanders’ contact information for emergencies.

Residents cited concerns about safety, murders, house burglaries and drug dealing. They bemoaned not having a mobile police station in town, which forced them to travel long distances to get services provided by the Germiston or Elsburg police stations.

Others inquired about criminal record clearance certification.

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According to resident Lucia Khuthuma, the police are always late in responding to concerns.

“We need to know our community crime stats and whether our crimes are up or down.

“We need proper interventions with the police; all we see are police vans driving to arrest someone,” said Khuthuma.

“We need working policing forums in our community. We reported various difficulties but never received a response from the police,” she said.

One resident said there were never vans at the SAPS stations to respond to their concerns when they phoned the police.

“When they arrest known drug dealers or criminals who have admitted to doing the crimes, they don’t stay in jail; they get released to terrorise the community again.

“There is a known Nigerian in Elsburg who sells drugs, and he has never spent a day in jail. If he is arrested, he just gets released.

Our children get drugs from a well-known Elsburg native. The lack of rehabs offered through our government is also a concern because we take our children to rehab, but there are extensive waiting lists, and we do not get admitted,” said the resident.

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Responding to the queries, Thethe stated that the community must collaborate with their CPF group and social crime units, as well as their sector manager and station commander.

“The sector manager is similar to the community’s station commander; she brings community issues to the station commander, who will escalate them to higher management.

“There is a mobile customer service centre which can come to the community and serve the people.

“As we are mandated to bring services to the people, people can do their document certifications and other things.

“The station was strategically located at its location after a thorough survey. However, we will engage with the taxi association to simplify transportation for those who can’t reach the station.

“The community must contact the sector manager at any time to address their concerns. When residents come to the station, they must not leave without receiving help. The station commander’s numbers are visible on the wall and must be used.

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“All citizens have the right to get feedback on the cases they initiated, and as government employees, we must serve the community with pride and dignity.

“The community can anonymously expose drug traffickers as part of the ongoing battle against drugs. Even before the operations, there were drug successes, particularly in the Elsburg area,” said Thethe.

The Drug Enforcement Unit of the EMPD arrested a 46-year-old man on May 13 for trading in illegal cannabis products in the Elsburg area.

Officers on Mare Street investigated after receiving a tip from Crime Intelligence.

The man failed to present paperwork for the production, distribution or cultivation of cannabis when the officers arrived, who seized cannabis and cannabis-infused goods worth about R20 000 when searching the property.

The officers detained the man at the Elsburg Police Station while he awaits to appear before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.

Ekurhuleni district commissioner, Major General Anna Sithole, commended the law enforcement agencies involved in the operations.