Police chase immigrants during roadblock

Chasing illegal immigrants was the name of the game during a recent road block held by the Randfontein Police in conjunction with the town’s Traffic Police.

All stations in the West Rand Police Cluster were present for the massive roadblock on the R28 between Randfontein and Azaadville. Home Affairs officials checking foreigners’ papers were included in the raid.

The roadblock formed part of a Women’s Day crime prevention operation called Operation Basadi.

The Herald ‘s journalist Roxy de Villiers unknowingly drove into the roadblock and underwent the entire search procedure. Traffic Police checked for outstanding fines as well as expired licence discs, and members of the Randfontein Police searched the boots of motorists’ cars, as well as their persons, to see whether they were holding any illegal weapons. A knife and a make-shift machete were confiscated from one motorist.

While the Herald journalist was present, two foot chases occurred. The first consisted of two male taxi passengers who fled on foot from police into the open veld. The second comprised another man running from the police, also into the open veld. On both occasions, the men, believed to be illegal immigrants, out ran the police. They made a dash while the officers were checking other people’s documentation, thus gaining a good head start. Others who were less willing to run were taken into custody by Home Affairs.

Randfontein Police’s spokesperson, Captain Appel Ernst, said the illegal immigrants will be held for a period of up to 30 days in police cells, until Home Affairs deports them if their documents are not in order. Otherwise, they will be released and allowed to go their own way.

The exact number of arrests made as a result of the operation is not yet known.

Operation Basadi was only one of many operations the cluster plans to have over the next few days. These will include visiting liquor outlets as well as distributors of second-hand goods.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.

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