Last week the police arrested three members of the public for being in possession of R140 000 of stolen Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) road marking paint.
The arrests followed a sting operation led by the City’s Forensic and Investigation Services Department, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the Metro police.
Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said the operation targeted three residential properties and a motor dealership in Mayfair West, pawn shops in Brixton and Bertrams and two residential properties in Bosmont.
The 1 400 litres of paint were allegedly stolen by JRA officials who sold it again at R300 for 20 litres.
“These officials allegedly use City marked vehicles to deliver the stolen paint of not less than 600 litres per week, according to those arrested. Most of the stolen paint is sold to pawn shop owners who in turn resell it,” Mashaba said.
The mayor also said that at one property in Mayfair, where they seized 280 litres of stolen paint, workers were caught in the act while painting the walls of the property with the paint meant for road markings.
The City will now try to find out who signed off for the paint, where it was delivered and by whom.
“Corruption doesn’t just steal from the City. It robs residents of much-needed services and resources. This is why corruption has no place in this administration and we will work tirelessly to eradicate it.”
To report any fraud and corruption activities, please call the 24-hour tip-off hotline on 0800 002 587 or visit the offices of the forensic investigation department at 48 Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein.
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