The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the City of Johannesburg have committed to investigating the growing informal settlement beneath Katherine Street Bridge, and co-ordinating a multi-departmental intervention aimed at balancing public safety with humanitarian support.

The commitment follows concerns raised by Sandown residents who warned that the informal settlement under the bridge could result in tragedy during heavy rainfall.

“The JMPD regional office was not previously aware of the situation under the Katherine Street bridge, and as such, no enforcement operations have been conducted at this specific location,” JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said.

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“Following your inquiry, we will immediately conduct further investigations to assess the situation on the ground.

Once verified, we will engage and mobilise the necessary municipal stakeholders to co-ordinate a joint operation to safely remove the individuals and ensure they are guided toward suitable alternative placement.”

He added that JMPD takes all public safety concerns and reports of municipal by-law violations seriously.

“Now that this specific location has been brought to our attention, we will look into the matter.

As a standard operating procedure, once an area is identified or an operation is conducted, our officers conduct regular follow-up patrols to prevent the recurrence of any unlawful activities and to ensure public safety is maintained.”

City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said the regional team responsible for displaced persons from social development previously reclaimed the hotspot through an interdepartmental high impact service delivery operation, which was making way for the construction of the Barlow Park Apartments and shopping mall on Katherine Street.

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“The department is, however, not aware of the re-invasion of the Katherine Street bridge, and will therefore follow up on the matter and assess the severity of the challenge, re-profile the hotspot, and assess the needs of the invaders for further social work intervention.”

He added that service delivery defects across the city are co-ordinated by citizen relationship and urban management.

“Each region has a regional director, who facilitates daily interdepartmental high impact services delivery operations to address identified challenges per department, including JMPD, Johannesburg Development Agency, Pikitup, economic development, Johannesburg Roads Agency, Johannesburg Property Company, human settlements, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, social development, Johannesburg Water, City Power, etc, in response to such defects.”

Modingoane said social development department services are voluntary to those who are homeless, and services are provided to those who are willing to be assisted through the following interventions:
• Shelter placements in one of the three city owned shelters, with a total bed capacity of 450,
• Community re-integration intervention, through family reunification and independent living,
• Psycho-social support intervention facilitation,
• Personal hygiene and nutrition intervention,
• Outreach and community awareness,
• Substance abuse treatment preparation and placement in outpatient and inpatient substance abuse treatment centres, and
• Collaborations with other stakeholders.
He added that homelessness is a multi-faceted challenge which requires active participation of the residents of the city.

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