Raid causes mixed feelings in Msawawa

Warrant officer Balan Muthan, head of communications for the Douglasdale Police Station explained that during the raid, which was a joint effort between the police, metro police and the Department of Housing, 156 illegally erected structures were broken down. Muthan said that the suspected illegal immigrants were being detained at Randburg and Sandton police stations awaiting verification by the Department of Home Affairs.

During a crime awareness road show conducted by the Department of Community Safety in Msawawa on 24 June, residents showed mixed feelings towards the raid and the police. One incensed resident shouted at the police officers who were present. She was upset because, during the raid, doors were broken down by the police and homes were searched for identity documents. The resident claimed that while the police apologised for breaking down her door they did not replace the door.

Another resident felt as though she was intimidated by the police who suspected her of being an illegal. Another resident approached a member of the Department of Community Safety because he was not at home during the raid. When he returned he found his home turned upside down and he can now not locate his ID book. While residents were unhappy about aspects of the raid the majority of residents thanked the police for intervening in the settlement because they now felt safer. Some residents even implored the police to conduct a weekly raid in the area.

In response to the issues the community of Msawawa had with the raid, Muthan said that the instructions came from above and the Douglasdale Police had to merely follow these instructions.