The double murder on May 26 on the N12 Putfontein off-ramp is the latest in a crime spree that has terrorised motorists and residents in Benoni and Springs.
Since January there have been 12 murders and seven other crime related incidents on the stretch between the Snake Road and Etwatwa offramps.
Police from Springs, Crystal Park and Benoni say crime on the N12 has escalated enormously since last year.
The latest incidents reported include a murder and an attempted murder on May 25, four murders on May 26 (including the young couple killed on the Putfontein off-ramp) and an attempted armed robbery on the same day.
These are not isolated incidents and have occurred over the Holfontein, Putfontein, Snake Road and Welgedacht bridges.
Also read: Woman hijacked on N12 bridge by bogus policemen
“I first noticed this escalation early last year, when we went from getting reports every other week to every week.
“We increased patrols but the problem continued,” says Springs Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Ramphora.
Part of the reason why the spree has seemingly spread uncontrollably is that police are having trouble narrowing down the group of suspects responsible.
Ramphora says when they first noticed the disturbing pattern last year, victims said they had been stopped by suspects pretending to be police officers.
“However that has changed as victims now say they were stopped or attacked by suspects that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
“So we’re not sure if it’s the same group of people who have changed their modus operandi or if it’s an entirely different group of suspects,” says Ramphora.
Benoni SAPS spokesrperson Captain Nomsa Sekele echoed Ramphora’s tatement and said it was not clear who the perpetrators behind the incidents on the N12 were, but police would work with different stakeholders to increase their visibility the area.
Also read: Man murdered on N12
However, Crystal Park Police allege that illegal miners are being escorted to and from the illegal shafts by a heavily armed Sotho nationals who are ready to eliminate anything or anyone (police included) who has the potential of standing on their way.
It has come to their attention that illegal miners are crossing the N12 highway on a daily basis to mine in Benoni as some of them reside at the N12 informal settlement.
“We have previously experienced about three incidents of shootouts between illegal miners and the police whereby the perpetrators run and hide in the shafts,” says Crystal Park spokesperson Constable Alex Mokete.
Additionally, police say the 12km stretch of road is surrounded by tracts of land on either side that make it easy for criminals to lie in wait for unsuspecting victims.
Furthermore, the off-ramps have space for cars, and taxis to park on the side of the road without disturbing traffic which is why the majority of the incidents are happening there.
Police say the criminals are targeting people across gender and colour lines, targeting pedestrians and motorists alike.
“Whoever appears is vulnerable,” says Ramphora.
Also read: Man murdered on N12
At night, the lack of working lights on the N12 also makes it easy for criminals to commit crimes and harder for drivers and pedestrians to spot potential dangers around them.
Ramphora says he got in touch with SANRAL in September last year requesting they fix the lights, cut the grass and put up boards warning people about the danger in the area.
The organisation responded by putting up boards but the lights are still not working and the grass has been cut intermittently.
During the Advertiser’s drive to all the trouble spots on the N12, there wasn’t a single emergency phone on the side of road as seen on other highways.
Law enforcement agencies in Benoni and Springs say despite their best efforts to curb the crime spree, it has continued to get worse.
Also read: Man killed on the Etwatwa off-ramp
Springs police say they have requested additional help from SAPS district and provincial offices and a task team is being formed.
“We will continue patrolling and place notification boards to warn drivers and pedestrians about the potential danger,” says Sekele.
“All Crystal Park uniform members, reservists, community policing forum joined by other role players such as the SAPS K9, Home Affairs and the
EMPD will, when the time is ripe and the moment opportune, have an intelligence driven operation where illegal firearms and all illegal activities will be eradicated,” says Mokete.
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