Police and health authorities raided parts of Sunnyside and Arcadia for drug dealers and non-compliant buildings.
Flat occupants were searched, as were pedestrians, while shops in Park, Hamilton streets and the surrounding areas were raided.
Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said health inspectors found a business in Hamilton centre to be selling illegal cigarettes and not abiding by the health and fire regulations. The shop had a bathroom and a lodging area near the kitchen, which was a declared health hazard.
The business also did not have the required documents to sell certain goods and there were apartments upstairs that had illegal electricity connections.
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Mahamba said the Tshwane metro was losing a fortune due to such illegal connections.
“This electricity probably does not reflect at public works, which manages Tshwane’s electricity [meters] at this building, therefore the building owner is not billed,” the Mahamba said.
Some raided crèches were found with illegal wiring and unregistered – the one in Park Street was operating on permits last renewed 10 years ago.
Mahamba said businesses with no licences were closed down and would be given an opportunity to rectify their affairs. “They can only operate once they have complied with all necessary documents.”
Unregistered buildings in Park Street were also raided and demolished.
Police also targeted undocumented foreigners in door-to-door searches.
Mahamba said a man was arrested after trying to hide about R40 000 cash stuffed in a bag.
“Police asked the man to produce identification, but he panicked and ran towards the kitchen where he tossed a black plastic bag containing money onto a shelve in the kitchen.
“Police immediately detained the person and asked him where he had received the money, which he could not explain,” Mahamba said.
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Mahamba said the raid was meant to create a safer city for residents.
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