October 1, 2003
By Bontle Moeng
THE crackdown on Hillbrow's notorious crime hot spots - which began last week - continued this morning with more than 120 police officials conducting door-to-door searches of two derelict buildings.
Task teams from the South African Police Services and the Johannesburg Metro Police swooped on two inner city buildings, Metropolitan Heights and Matroosberg Heights in Hillbrow.
They were supported by representatives from the Inner City Regeneration Programme, the South African National Defence Force, representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Air Force, Pikitup, City Parks and 400 Wozani Security workers, known as red ants, in their trade-mark red overalls
Four people were arrested in connection with various crimes, including an alleged rape, and 140 illegal immigrants were taken into custody and would be transported to the Lindela Deportation facility, according to the communication officer for Region 8, Roopa Singh. Seven illegal firearms were also confiscated, Singh added.
"Inner city security officials descended on Hillbrow in the early hours of the morning, in a special operation spearheaded by the Inner City Regeneration Task Force," Singh said.
"This operation is part of an ongoing effort by the Inner City Regeneration Task Force to address social and environmental problems that the inner city is currently experiencing," Singh added.
"Numerous buildings will be searched as officials clamp down on crime, drug dealing, unsafe buildings, illegal liquor outlets and illegal immigrants." The objectives of the clean-up operation were to enforce the by-laws and carry out crime prevention measures, Singh said.
Helicopters were used to drop police officers on to the roofs of the buildings, while in the streets below Pikitup employees collected litter and rubble.
The community supported the clean-up operation, communications manager for Region 8, Shaun O' Shea, said, adding a warning that "it is not over yet".
The task team planned to continue the clean-up operation until the festive season.
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