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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
