Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela (L) and Gauteng Premier David Makhura, middle, during Operation Okae Molao in Sandton, Johannesburg, 1 August 2019. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
Some of the motorists who where stuck in traffic during rush hour in Sandton on Thursday applauded Gauteng Premier David Makhura, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) for cleaning the streets from criminals, especially car thieves.
Refilwe Maphoto is one of the people who drive down Maxwell Drive every morning and she was happy to see the premier at work.
“This is a great initiative, I am rushing to work but I am really happy to see the premier prioritizing us and arresting criminals. My car is nice but I am always afraid that I might loose it anytime on the streets, I don’t even feel free to drive at night,” said Maphoto.
Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane also joined the team in the anti-crime operation early in the morning to raid some of the crime hotspots in Johannesburg.
Woodmead, Randburg taxi rank and Bryanston Main Road are some of the major crime hotspots in the city.
During Women’s Month, Operation Okae Molao will tackle cases related to gender-based violence in the province.
Four-hundred-and-forty-seven suspects have been arrested around the province on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, most of them wanted for gender-based crimes. Several taxis were impounded, and affected passengers were transported by police to the nearest taxi rank.
Makhura’s spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga says of the 447 people who were arrested, one was arrested for murder and rape.
The premier said they aren’t gonna leave any stone unturned to restore order in the province. “We need this province to be safe and secure,” said Makhura.
“We are very happy with the number of suspects we have arrested – most of them have been on the run. The main issue have been with people who are driving taxis without licences and these taxis are not supposed to be on our roads.
“I know that the operation caused delays, but we want employers to understand that crime is damaging our economy and our communities, and the police are out there looking for criminals,” Makhura said.
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