Crime crackdown: Massive operation hits local hotspots
Arrests included a suspect for possession of jamming devices and attempted theft of a motor vehicle, two for dealing in dagga and six illegal immigrants.
A high-impact crime prevention operation led by the Bedfordview CPF and SAPS resulted in multiple arrests and over 500 individuals and vehicles searched on June 7.
The collaborative initiative, Operation Ukusebenza, involved around 245 law enforcement officers and community safety partners from across Gauteng.
Arrests included a suspect for possession of jamming devices and attempted vehicle theft, two for dealing in dagga, and six illegal immigrants.
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The operation targeted hotspots in Bedfordview, Mabondeni informal settlement, Elandsfontein, and Klopperpark to disrupt criminal activity and increase police visibility. A roadblock was set up on Barbara Road, and illegal miners were targeted in Meadowdale.
Organised by Jacques Steyn, newly elected chairperson of Sector 2 Bedfordview CPF, the goal was to prevent crime, remove drugs and illegal liquor from the streets, and track stolen vehicles or wanted suspects.
“We targeted drug dealers, drunk drivers, and those operating illegally after hours. Sectors 1 and 2 are also areas of concern,” said Steyn.
Regarding recent crime trends, Steyn mentioned several murders under investigation, a highway shootout believed to be a targeted hit, vehicle theft at local events and schools, an armed robbery at a storage facility resulting in seven arrests, and coordinated shoplifting incidents with stolen goods recovered.
Steyn dismissed recent claims of a kidnapping at Eastgate Mall as false.
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Former Ekurhuleni MMC for Community Safety, Letlhogonolo Moseki, a Bedfordview resident, praised the initiative but stressed the need for ongoing operations.
“South Africa is under siege. Bedfordview has become a haven for drug lords and money laundering. This operation sends a strong message to lawbreakers,” he said.
“We need weekly operations of this scale. Bedfordview’s high walls and lack of neighbourly interaction make it easy for criminals to operate unnoticed,” he added.
Moseki highlighted systemic challenges in policing, including underfunding and outdated training and resources.
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“Budget cuts consistently hit police and healthcare first. Since 1994, we’ve crippled our security system,” he stated.
He called for increased investment in well-trained officers with proper resources rather than flashy equipment.
The operation included local security partners, neighbouring CPFs, Gauteng Crime Wardens, and the Community in Blue.
