EMPD and SAPS members joined forces with the Prasa (Metrorail) Protection Services, last Friday, with the objective of apprehending those who travel on trains without tickets, traders operating illegally on the platforms, as well as to search for dangerous weapons.
Forty-five suspects were arrested and most of the traders on the platform issued with stern warnings to only operate within the areas demarcated for trading.
The special Bumper to Bumper operation was conducted between 2pm and 10pm within the Germiston Station, as well as the area covering a 3km radius around the station.
Stop-and-searches were conducted for dangerous weapons and one male suspect was arrested with an okapi knife that was handed over to the Metrorail Protection Services members.
All the traders who were not complying with regards to the defined spaces within which they are permitted to trade were issued with warnings.
Forty-four illegal immigrants were arrested along Voortrekker, Railway, Meyer, Johan Rissik, President, Milne, Plantation, Jack, Oosthuizen, Lambert, Odendaal and Knox streets.
The arrestees included two women from Malawi, 10 men from Ethiopia, 11 men from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 12 from Zimbabwe and nine men from Bangladesh.
The arrested undocumented persons were charged in terms of the Immigration Act at the Germiston Police Station and were expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on May 16.
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