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Familiar faces busted during raid

The police raided some known crime areas in Krugersdorp, including the home of a few familiar faces who often are seen begging for money at traffic lights.

What used to be a beautiful area now bears the title of the area on the West Rand where the most drug trafficking, prostitution, extortion and illegal business practices take place, and where crime syndicates are active.

Through the years Luipaard and Sivewright Streets in Luipaardsvlei have become known as the drug and prostitution mecca of Gauteng.

The police, in a joint operation with other role players, conduct raids on a regular basis in a bid to rid these streets and other identified areas in Krugersdorp of the high levels of crime linked to drug abuse.

Such an operation was held again on 28 March and proved to be a success after 151 people were searched and their fingerprints taken. The device they use to take the fingerprints is known as the Maxi-ID and it shows whether the particular person is linked to any crimes. Two people were arrested for drugs and one person for whom a warrant of arrest was issued for failing to appear in court on an assault-related charge.

Colonel Luke Enslin of the Krugersdorp SAPS, who is one of the members driving the Krugersdorp Cluster Drug Task Team, says that the arrests include those of four illegal immigrants and five people for being in possession of drugs.

“Social workers took away eight babies from their parents in Coronation Park, and two children who had run away from home were found by the police during this operation.”

The NEWS accompanied the police on the raid held in Luipaard and Sivewright Street and noticed a few familiar faces who are seen at traffic lights regularly begging for money, apparently to feed their habit.

Some familiar faces were seen at a property in Luipaard Street.
Some familiar faces were seen at a property in Luipaard Street.

At the entrance of the property where these beggars live, used needles were seen lying around. It is dark inside the building because most of the windows are covered with either blankets or cardboard. Food does not seem to be a priority as a burger from a nearby take-away restaurant was left untouched.

The conditions in which these beggars, prostitutes and drug dealers live are not desirable, to say the least

Used and unopened condoms litter the properties. The stench coming from certain rooms was unbearable, with rubbish strewn all over.

Condom packaging seen strewn all over.
Condom packaging seen strewn all over.

A total of 22 prostitutes from two properties were taken to the Krugersdorp Police Station to check whether they were wanted for any specific crimes.

One prostitute, who was arrested at the station, refused to get into the police van, saying that they were not doing anything wrong.

“The men leave their wives to be with us, it is not like we are knocking on their doors, asking for business.”

Some alleged Luipaard Street prostitutes ready to get into a police van to have their backgrounds checked at the police station.
Some alleged Luipaard Street prostitutes ready to get into a police van to have their backgrounds checked at the police station.

Research revealed that up to 90 per cent of the prostitutes on Luipaard Street are involved in illegal drug trading. About 60 of them work there 24 hours a day.

Another aspect that Mogale City Local Municipality will be addressing is the large number of illegal electricity connections. Extension cords are seen leading into the properties that allegedly are run by the drug dealers.

“It is time that we hold the owners of these properties accountable. They are just as guilty because they allow illegal practices on their properties,” says Enslin.

Illegal electricity connections are the norm in Luipaard and Sivewright Streets.
Illegal electricity connections are the norm in Luipaard and Sivewright Streets.

Since the Drug Task Team became operational in September 2012, they have managed to arrest over 2 500 suspects.

Enslin says the anonymous drug tip-off SMS line 083 339 4544 is very successful and have led to many drug and crime related arrests.

He thanks all the police members at the Krugersdorp Police Station as well as the various other role players such as staff from the Department of Home Affairs, Mogale City Local Municipality, as well as members of the Community Policing Forum and of Public Safety who made sure that the raid again was a success.

11 Comments

  1. Finally! I dispise the beggars at the robots! This morning a young man begged for money don’t think he’s older than 20! I nearly yelled at him to go and work for his money cause my husband works his flpn ass off to provide for me.

  2. All I have to say °̩ѕ your guys are doing a great job,you must get all the drug dealers and the peaple that are using drugs,you guys must also go to krugersdorp wes,there °̩ѕ also a lot of drug dealers and peaple that °̩ѕ using drugs!!

  3. Police are doing the good job they also need to Visit Munsieville for Nyaupe.
    Keep up the good work

  4. Ja die manne werk hard om die mense van die straat af te kry maar as jy jou oe uitvee more is hul weer terug op hul pos verstaan dit nie.

  5. Job well done SAPS. I live in that area and can see the work the SAPS are doing. Once again well done

  6. Can one of the task team members contact me. I might have some info re certain of above.

  7. VERPES ook die bedelaars by robots. Veral die vet vrou wat by die robot op n14 by stopstraat net voor Cradelstone Mall bedel en kammig kanker het. Sy dinka s sy haar hare kort skeer dit sit geloofwaardigheid by. Mens SPOT NIE MET SIEKTE nie, sy behoort haar te skaam. En al sou sy “kanker” he, dan bedel mens stteds nie vir geld nie, daar is hope legit maniere om geld te maak. Slegte slegte lui mense.Niemand KRY net geld, ons werk vir dit, ons bedel nie! Die goed by die robots moet almal gearresteer word, ook die spul wat goed verkwansel en in motoriste se pad is en net ‘n gevaar is vir motoriste. Dis teen die wet en niemand doen iets nie. Al die gemors tipe goed meot skoongemaak word!

  8. In krugersdorp north is a couple of drug houses they are only moving into another part of town, there r prostitutes in krugersdorp north???
    They are cleaning 1 part and they are only moving to a new part of town.
    Why are they not doing jail time or the drug dealers running freely around after they have raded them and arrested them???

  9. Goeie werk,die polisie moet in privaat klere en voertuie opdaag.Ek gee nie geld nie,kry hul ook nie jammer nie,hul wil nie skool gaan nie en ook nie werk nie.Gee jy kos ens.is hul kwaad en vloek jou.Het jul al geruik hoe ruik party van hulle? daars n ligtekop seun wie se kop vol luise is,kan n mens so laag daal en weke met dieselfde klere,sonder om jouself te was in die straat verskyn? dis n skande!

  10. Job well done we need to get these streets clean for the sake of our children.

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