Benoni SAPS mounting daily roadblocks
If you are on the wrong side of the law, chances are good you will be caught in a roadblock in Benoni.
This is according to Benoni SAPS station commander Brig Johan Jacobs, who has created a team with just over 10 police members who are conducting daily roadblocks around the town.
Jacobs started duties as commander of the Benoni Police Station on March 9 and has, for the past four weeks, been mounting daily roadblocks.
Jacobs said police receive assistance from the Benoni Community Policing Forum (CPF) and most security companies at these operations.
The City Times attended a roadblock on Pretoria Road, on Friday, where scores of vehicles were stopped.
Police scanned 530 vehicles, searched 82, searched 420 people and issued fines to the value of R5 750.
Later that day, a Mackenzie Park operation yielded the arrest of nine people for being in possession of explosives, five were nabbed for being in the country illegally, 16 fines were issued, to the value of R7 200, 401 people were searched, 107 vehicles were searched and 650 motor vehicles were scanned.
Jacobs said there is a “zero tolerance at roadblocks”.
“My aim is not to displace crime; to displace crime is very easy, my aim is to arrest perpetrators,” he explained.
“… If I do not arrest the person, then he or she might be the suspect and my wife and children might be the victims.”
Jacobs is present at 70 per cent of the roadblocks.
He said some people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the inconvenience caused, but most people are now understanding and realise the importance of the visible policing.
“The sole reason for me to do this is to create a safe and secure environment for Benoni residents and neighbouring areas,” Jacobs said.
Crystal Park resident Ali Onukogo was pulled over on Pretoria Road, on Friday.
“I was surprised at being pulled off, but they [the police] spoke nicely and the visibility is good,” he said.
Another Pretoria Road motorist, who did not want to be named, said: “It is a good thing for us in the community knowing that the police are doing their job,” the Fairleads resident said, He had an expired licence disc.
“I was caught and I need to take responsibility for that,” he admitted.
A total of 10 roadblocks were staged between May 16 and 20.
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