Florida Police have executed another joint operation aimed at attacking the root causes of criminality on October 11.
The raid was arranged in response to a shooting incident outside an illegal tavern in which two people were killed and five others were injured. The shooting occurred at roughly 21:00 on Friday October 8 in the New Canada informal settlement on the border between Roodepoort and Soweto. Arrests have yet to be made but police wished to send a strong message to those creating the scene for such incidents to occur.
The operation roped in members from the nearby police stations of Linden, Roodepoort and Honeydew, specialist units within the police ranks, and government officials from City Power, Home Affairs and the Liquor Board. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s security force and Florida Community Policing Forum (FCPF) were among the wide variety of officials and authorities to answer Colonel Amos Tsotetsi’s call.
Descending on the illegal tavern where the double murder took place, the almost 40-member unit confiscated 40 x 750ml bottles of beer, 47 x 660ml bottles of beer and cider, 30 litres of sorghum beer, as well as 55 sachets of assorted spirits. To properly kill the vibes, authorities also confiscated the sound system that was on the premises, and issued a number of fines for contravention of the Liquor Act.
While in the area, authorities tackled an illegal mining operation a short distance away. There they confiscated 15 phendukas, seven sand crushers, six gas cylinders, ten tubes of explosives, and various household tools. In addition, 120 people and 84 vehicles were searched at a roadblock in Fleurhof, where multiple fines were issued totalling R9 750.
