POLOKWANE – The second Operation Fiela Mokgotha, held at Ivydale last Wednesday, uncovered a crime hotspot of note.
Members of traffic law enforcement, the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liason, the police and the Polokwane Municipality in a joint operation with the DA cracked down on especially the illegal use of land as well as prostitution, which is rife in the area.
In some of the houses that were identified to have been used for illicit activities, illegal structures were found that posed a danger to the occupants who lived there.
Several people were found to illegally occupy houses and bridging electricity. The operation also included monitoring vehicles driving through the area for road worthiness.
Moshe Ramothwala,Traffic and Licencing Manager said they embarked on the operation to clean up the area.
“This is an on going operation to ensure that we clean up and keep this area clean. We are targeting this area specifically because we realised illegal activities are rife here.”
He added the operation was part of the city’s ‘Rea Aga’ programme, aimed at ridding the city of crime.
The DA’s ward 22 councillor, Mariëtte Pretorius explained that crime increases in the area almost daily.
“Sex work in the area is rife. It is a threat to the residents of the area.
“Children walk down this streets and some of the sex transactions take place in the open in full view of these children.
“We want to make sure that this area is safe for the people who live here. We want to show that we care for our community and we work hard to keep them safe and improve their quality of life.”
She explained that the best outcome of the ongoing operations would be the removal of the people who occupy land illegally and a follow-up that puts a complete stop to the illegal use of land.
