Halfway House and Waterfall City are crime-ridden suburbs of Midrand

Midrand Police believe a series of operations with other law enforcement agencies are yielding results despite battling crime in other suburbs.

April 3, 2023

Sphiwe Masilela 1 minute read

Midrand CPF chairperson Steven Johnson and treasurer Samantha Cholewka at the public meeting. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

Midrand’s Halfway House and Waterfall City suburbs are the highest contributors to contact crime, car hijackings, house robberies, and business robberies.
This was revealed at the Midrand CPF’s public meeting held at the Midrand Police Station on March 22.

Glen Austin has the third most crime in the sector – and Fridays and Wednesdays are the most problematic days.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mzwanele Gqobae said the station’s crime-prevention strategies will be managed by Station Commander Brigadier Molefi David Tsotsotso.

Colonel André de Klerk addresses the attendees at the Midrand CPF public meeting. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

He said four joint operations are being conducted with various law-enforcement agencies, including the JMPD and Gauteng Traffic Police. A five-member business watch team has been established to address theft out of vehicles and shoplifting at shopping malls and centres.
Gqobae said other task teams were being stationed at crime hotspots and Midrand exit routes to clamp down on transgressors.

Detectives commander of the Midrand police Colonel André de Klerk attended the meeting on behalf of Tsotsotso. He said they were working around the clock to fight lawlessness in their policing precinct.

Sector 1 Crime Forum chairperson Jonathan ‘Jo’ Burrows and Midrand CPF PRO Marianne Nel take notes. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

De Klerk said in February alone, 749 cases were reported to the Midrand Police Station, ranging from serious to petty crimes. He said the station has 2 920 open cases and 211 in court. There are 2 149 active court cases underway, he said. Fifty-eight people were convicted in February and only two were found not guilty, while 49 cases were withdrawn in court. These withdrawals are normally domestic violence cases, in which the victims choose not to proceed. “However, what is significant here is the number of people convicted versus not guilty; 58 convictions versus only two of not guilty. So the courts are assisting us in that regard.”