In a remarkable display of community solidarity and commitment, councillors of wards 2 and 50 in the north of Pretoria joined forces to tackle the rising crime in the Apies River area on July 19.
The operation formed part of a larger strategy to address the surge in criminal activity, including hijackings, rapes, and robberies, plaguing the community.
Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer expressed profound gratitude to everyone involved in the morning’s successful clean-up operation at the Apies River bridges along Lavender and Paul Kruger roads.
Meyer emphasised that criminals have no place in the community.
“This clean-up helps those who are victims of robberies that are happening at the bridge.
“I am super proud of this initiative because it’s for the first time in many years that so many stakeholders take hands to work together,” said Meyer.
The operation saw an impressive collaboration between various role players, including the SAPS, metro police units from Pretoria North and Sinoville, the CPF, the Fire Brigade, and several security companies.
Meyer acknowledged that despite the extensive list of contributors, the collective effort was vital in making a significant impact.
Following the recent increase in robberies around the North Apies River, it was suspected that illegal squatters under the R101 and R566 bridges were perpetrating these crimes.
The multidisciplinary operation, led by the TMPD team, successfully cleared structures and removed occupants from these areas, to curb pedestrian robberies and smash-and-grab incidents.
Ward 50 councillor Lenise Breytenbach underscored the importance of continued collaboration and announced that more such activities would take place in the area.
“The joint efforts of ward councillors and the community send a powerful message that the fight against crime is a shared responsibility, and together, we are making strides towards a safer, more secure environment.
“It is going to be a consistent thing now because we want to make sure that residents and all those who want to invest their businesses here feel safe,” she said.
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