faniem@caxton.co.za
Following the upsurge of crime at alarming levels in Reiger Park, especially hijacking, shooting and drug- related incidents, the Gauteng SAPS has placed Reiger Park under police lockdown.
According to Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson Sgt Mashudu Phathela, this is one of a number of new crime prevention strategies that will be initiated to take back the Reiger Park streets from criminals.
The police say this is not a roving band of police blitzing criminals, but a carefully planned operation designed to reduce crime in one of the city’s most dangerous areas, and to boost security.
The change of tactics by the SAPS is carried out by members of the Crime Intelligence, POPS, Flying Squad, EMPD, K9 and other police units.
Dozens of police officers are now patrolling the streets, while others are conducting stop-and-searches, raids, traffic stops, drug raids and warrant investigations.
On any given day or night, dozens of officers are expected to descend on high-crime areas where data shows spikes in violent crime, to round up as many illegal guns, drugs and criminals as possible in one swoop with tactics as simple as minor traffic stops.
It is projected that the operation will lead to drug busts, weapons seizures and police will even pounce on unsuspecting violent fugitives.
Phathela mentions that the police are there to find criminal elements in the township and expect support from members of the public.
“We urge the community to cooperate with security agencies in flushing out criminals from the township.”
Phathela says what the residents of Reiger Park needs the most is security and assure them that the police will conduct their work in a diligent manner. He also urged residents to help send tip-offs to police.
The secretary of the Reiger Park Community Policing Forum, Trevor Reeby, welcomes the decision by the police to intensify patrols in the crime-ridden community.
“I have no problem with the tactic, in fact, I’m happy with it and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) support it,” says Reeby.
In an incident on July 31, a family in Delmore Park was hijacked and their house robbed by three armed men.
According to Amina Fortune at 8.15pm her two children (three and 10 years old) told her that their father was at their gate.
“I went outside and there were three men who were holding my ex husband at gunpoint.”
She says that one of the men pointed a firearm at her and told her they were the police.
“They pushed me inside and asked for money. Two of the men took my children and ex husband to one of the rooms, and I was taken outside to my car and was told to give the man my laptop,” says Amina.
She adds that the man told her that if she didn’t give him her laptop that he would rape and shoot her.
She was then ordered back into the main room and told to lie face down on the floor.
“The men then tied my ex husband, my son and myself up. My three-year-old was crying and the men threatened to shoot him if he wasn’t quiet.”
“I managed to untie us after they left and called the police.”
She says the robbery took 20 minutes.
The family’s neighbour, Michael, who could not give his last name for safety reasons, says that they now have a message for the mayor and the SAPS.
“We are no longer saying enough is enough. We are saying that we will now take the law into our own hands.”
Michael has been a member of the community for 31 years and is a former chairperson of the CPF.
He says that when he tried to call the Reiger Park SAPS, it took them 17 and a half minutes to answer their phones just for the officer to put the phone down next to her and carry on with her own conversation.
“I called the police again and informed them of what had just happened.”
Michael adds that he is requesting that the mayor of Ekurhuleni visit their area.
“We are tired of complaining about the SAPS; either the SAPS take action or we will, and, if necessary, against the police themselves.”
He says that they have continuously asked for their area to be enclosed, but without result.
“If our area is not enclosed, we will then do it ourselves and charge the metro for it.”
When asked about Michael’s comments for the SAPS, Phathela responds: “If the police were not doing anything, I would then understand the community wanting to take these matters into their own hands.
“We as the police understand the frustration of the Reiger Park community concerning the ongoing criminal activities, but we are also frustrated and are doing our utmost best to help,” says Phathela.
“What happens is when criminals know about high police concentration in a certain area, they move to another area, but the problem will be addressed.”
Concerning the late arrival of the police to the scene, Phathela adds that “certain points” prevented them from arriving earlier.
“Some areas in Delmore Park do not have street names, and some houses in the area do not have numbers which poses as a challenge for the police to get to a crime scene on time.” – @FanieBoksburg
