Rabie Ridge SAPS ran a clean-up campaign to combat crime in dirty parks and dumping spots.
Captain Matsobane Masela, communications officer for Rabie Ridge SAPS, said the campaign was run in conjunction with various stakeholders, including councillors of Ward 110 and Ward 80, churches, City of Johannesburg, Pikitup and the Department of Social Development.
He said the wards cover Kanana, Rabie Ridge, Mayibuye and Austin View.
“The Department of Social Development has identified spots where criminals and drug addicts have found corners to commit their crimes at parks and dumping sites,” he said
The clean-up campaign ran from November 14 to November 19.
During the campaign, community members of Rabie Ridge and other stakeholders paraded at Rabie Ridge community hall, behind the police station, to say enough is enough.
Afterwards they went to all parks and dumping sites to clean up.
Masela said the clean-up was conducted to avoid a situation where children play in an unhealthy environment.
“The community promoted a safe and healthy environment to prevent young boys from abusing drugs in those targeted spaces.”
Rabie Ridge SAPS also discouraged young girls from dumping aborted foetuses in these spaces, as this amounts to the criminal offence of concealment of birth.
Possession and use of illegal drugs is also an offence.
“Exposing the community to a dirty and unhealthy environment is against the municipal by-laws,” added Masela.
He said the campaign went smoothly and encouraged young people and parents to help one another.
