WATCH: High-level attention given to high crime levels in Boksburg

Law enforcement authorities in Ekurhuleni are concerned about the high levels and spikes in certain types of crimes in the district.

In an exclusive interview with the Boksburg Advertiser about the crime trends in Boksburg and strategies to tackle these, authorities revealed that they have noted a surge in burglaries, robberies, hijackings and aggravated assaults, among other crimes.

Speaking to us during Operation Shanela, Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major General Anna Sithole said Boksburg SAPS has become one of their priority policing precincts due to its startlingly high crime stats.
Hence, they have taken a stern decision to deal decisively with crime.

These efforts include frequent high-density operations such as the weekly station operations and the district’s regular Operation Shanela.
The operation on February 8, led by the district commissioner, saw the different teams from across the district simultaneously conducting roadblocks, raids, inspections of businesses and the tracing of wanted suspects.

The team consisted of members from Home Affairs, SAPS, security companies, EMPD, Gauteng Traffic Department, Crime Prevention Wardens, CPF and other stakeholders.
“We are very concerned about crime in Boksburg. That is why we have put in place drastic measures to assist the local station.
“Over and above the district operations, the station holds its own weekly operations where it collaborates with its local partners – security companies, the metro, wardens and the CPF.”

Sithole pointed out that through their well-coordinated intelligence-driven operations, police in the district continued to make inroads in taking down many criminals, discovering and seizing contrabands, recovering stolen goods and bringing down the volumes of aggravated robberies through high police visibility.

Community involvement
Sithole stressed the need for community members to remain role players in the fight against crime.
“In some cases, the crimes happen in the presence of community members but witnesses are reluctant to come forward.
“Communities need to understand that the key factor in eradicating crime is arrests and convictions. We encourage the public to be our eyes and ears.”

Poor service delivery
Responding to a question about service delivery concerns from the public, such as sluggish police performance, delayed response times, poor investigation, failure to arrest suspects and lack of vehicles being used as an excuse, the district commissioner responded:

“We are not taking these allegations lightly, and we always encourage residents to escalate those issues to police management so that departmental steps can be instituted against those who transgress.
“However, I must indicate that, with regard to known suspects that are not yet arrested, we have in the district, assembled a team of detectives from all the different stations who monitor the list of all the known suspects.

“On a weekly basis, the district team conducts tracing operations to try and arrest suspects that are known in the whole of Ekurhuleni.”
“For example, during the high-density operation on February 8, the teams of detectives have, before dawn, managed to arrest over 240 suspects, of which 148 were arrested for contact crimes which include assault GBH, and rapes amongst others; while 53 were arrested for gender-based violence.”

Resources
Regarding resources to serve the Boksburg precinct, Sithole hit out at the excuse that the alleged delays are a result of a lack of resources, particularly vehicles.

“Boksburg SAPS is one of the stations that do not have a shortage of resources. Just this morning I was telling the team that there is no way that we can lose the battle against crime considering the resources available at the Boksburg Police Station.

“As we speak, Boksburg has 14 vehicles for visible policing, and six on the ground to attend to complaints.
“There is no excuse from the members about the shortage of resources. It’s totally unacceptable, and if it is what they are saying, we encourage the community to contact the station commander immediately.”

Illegal mining
Responding to our questions about the fight against illegal mining, the district commissioner acknowledged that while there is still more to be done to totally eradicate this problem, her district is making inroads in dismantling the operations.

“We have not yet totally eradicated it, but as law enforcement we have, through these operations and the team that has been assembled specifically for illegal mining in the district, managed to arrest a number of the operators and have had their tools of trade confiscated.

“The team conduct weekly operations at the identified illegal mining spots in the whole of Ekurhuleni. Week in and week out they do make a number of arrests for illegal mining, and because the suspects are mostly illegal immigrants they are also charged for being in the country without the required documents.

“With this team, we are slowly but surely moving towards the direction of eradicating illegal mining. Some of the culprits do get convicted and after serving their time they get deported to their countries of origin.
“However, I must also indicate that this problem is not just the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies. There are other role players that should effectively play their role.
“One of them is DMRE, and I must indicate that they are in our district working closely with us to have the abandoned mineshafts sealed. We need collective efforts that must be timeously used to deal with the threat.

Delivery motorcycle hijackings and theft
Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele said they have made great inroads into reducing the levels of attacks on delivery riders.

“Let me highlight the fact during January we arrested seven suspects in connection with the thefts/hijacking of motorcycles. In November, in partnership with our security companies, we managed to arrest a suspect who was found in possession of four stolen motorcycles in a shack in Angelo informal settlement.
“The suspect is still in custody and the trial continues in court.
“Ever since that, we have noted a significant decrease in the number of cases where the motorcycle delivery riders are targeted.”

Operation Shanela yields more arrests
During the operation, the different police teams arrested a total of 242 suspects for various offences.

The liquor team closed down five illegal taverns and issued the operators with fines and had their stock confiscated. Five fines were issued to second-hand goods outlets for non-compliance. While a total of 91 traffic fines to the value of R32 600 were issued to motorists at the roadblock.

The team, consisting of environmental health practitioners, deployed to check compliance at the local spaza shops, arrested eight operators after they were found in possession of illicit cigarettes.

The operation concluded with a crime imbizo at the former mine quarters in Comet, where top management had the opportunity to listen to concerns raised by residents as far as crime and policing the community are concerned.

Residents were encouraged to report bad cops so that departmental steps could be taken against those responsible.
Dispelling the notion among residents that laying complaints against officers is of no use because nothing is being done about it, Sithole pointed out that any complaint lodged received attention and if found that there are grounds to register a departmental case, the accused gets charged.

“Depending on the outcome of the case and the magnitude of the transgression, if found guilty the member may receive sanctions ranging from a verbal and written warning to dismissal.”

Sithole thanked all the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation.

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