UPDATE: Law enforcement agencies set the record straight after a police operation is conducted in Fairland

FAIRLAND – The Fairland Police Station insists the officers were assigned to only burn the long grass on the property and not burn down houses as alleged by displaced persons.

May 26, 2017

Naledi Mokoena 1 minute read

Displaced people sit in the veld after the property is burnt.

Fairland Police Station has denied all allegations made by displaced persons that members of its police force burnt down their homes which border Wesbank in Fairland.

Northcliff Melville Times contacted Fairland Police Station acting station commander, Captain Pheko Sejang to obtain clarity on the situation.

With the assistance of Beagle Watch Armed Response, Fairland police officers conducted a joint operation on 25 May after becoming aware of displaced persons residing illegally on a property in Fairland.

Read: Reaction officers and police allegedly send Fairland Homes up in smoke

Sejang said, “The joint operation took place due to residents’ complaints about the prevalence of crime-related incidents in the area [allegedly] linked to the displaced people. Police were there to burn the tall grass in the area.

“We have a big problem with cables being stolen, housebreaking and hijacking incidents in the area. We did not burn where they sleep and their possessions. We plan to have a meeting with them to determine a way forward.”

It was however clear that their possessions had in fact been burned.

Spokesperson for Gauteng provincial police, Captain Kay Makhubela said it was common that members of the police burnt grass in order to create visibility in the area.

“We don’t burn people’s property but instead want to create visibility in order to see criminal activity happening in an open space. The vagrants who claim their property was burnt by the police must go open a case at the police station. The police will give advice on which case to open once they have given a statement,” explained Makhubela.