Police operation targets Plastic View

Police and security firms raided Plastic View during a search and seize operation.

May 30, 2016

Gopolang Chawane 2 minutes read

More police arrive on horseback. Photo: Gopolang Chawane

A massive search and seizure operation was conducted by police in the informal settlement Plastic View east of Pretoria on Friday morning.

Police, security firms, community policing forums and locals rallied at a local shopping centre in the early on Friday morning, to conduct a large-scale ‘clean-up’ operation.

Scores of police raided Plastic View informal settlement to search for weapons and drugs, increase visibility and gather information on the reason behind recent clashes between Basotho and Zimbabwean nationals in the area.

Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant Officer Dave Miller said planing for operation was already underway before the clash.

“It was unfortunate that the operation came after the violence.”

Garsfontein police station commander Colonel Andrew Lesch told Rekord the aim of the operation was not to terrify or antagonise residents, but to search targeted hotspots identified by police.

“We [police] will under no circumstance traumatise young children or open fire on residents.”

“The aim of this operation was to confiscate weapons, conduct a controlled search of targeted areas and gather vital information on most residents’ concerns.”

Lesch said police and security firms were given strict instructions not to open fire on residents unless the officials’ lives were in immediate danger.

Many residents fled their homes when security officials entered Plastic View.

Lesch asked some of the residents hiding in the veld on the outskirts of the informal settlement why they were running and one of the men said he was afraid police would arrest him as he was Zimbabwean.

Miller said: “We have strong reason to believe most of the people who fled were foreign nationals.”

Police knocked on several doors in search of weapons and illegal substances.

A man was found hiding in what seemed to be a makeshift bunker.

Miller said police found the man hiding in a hole under a bed in one of the targeted shebeens.

He said the man was arrested for illegal trading.

Several weapons, cases of beer and dagga were seized by law enforcers.

Two men were arrested for possession of drugs.

Bull Security and Directorate of Specialized Security (DSS) were briefed before the potentially dangerous operation.

At sunrise more police on horseback arrived.

Miller said police would hike visibility in the area as the Plastic View violence was an ongoing concern for residents living in the surrounding areas.

Tshwane metro mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale said the relocation of Plastic View residents was ongoing.

Manale said due to an interdict, the metro could not remove the residents in 2009.

He said the metro and representatives of Plastic View residents were negotiating a solution.

“The metro is in advanced negotiations with lawyers from the human rights committee, acting on behalf of the Plastic View residents, to discuss available options when the land is sold on auction.”