THE hard work and selfless dedication of eThekwini Municipality’s Special Crime Prevention and Clean-Up Team has led to the arrest of 15 suspects that appear on the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Most Wanted list.

The Team’s first blitz operation took place on 7 March, with eThekwini Municipal units such as Metro Police and Cleansing and Solid Waste working in conjunction with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and SAPS. The joint operation saw them raid the boundary between railway lines below Che Guevara (Moore) Road under the M4 southbound freeway where a number of “whoonga” addicts were living and openly taking drugs.

The action taken heeds the call made by eThekwini Deputy Mayor Fawzia Peer, who recently met with PRASA in order to find solutions to tackling the high crime rate in the area. Residents have reported muggings, the sale of drugs and vagrancy in the precinct. Acting Metro Police Head Steve Middleton said the City was determined to fight crime in the area. “It has become dangerous for residents to walk near the bridge. Those who dared to walk there on their way into town or the nearby learning institutions have been robbed and assaulted.

We could not stand by and allow this to continue,” he said. Middleton said a team would be posted under the bridge and on the nearby roads until the area was clean again. “All those apprehended will under-go finger printing at the nearest SAPS station. Those found wanted for crimes will be arrested immediately. We are working closely with other City departments in order to help those apprehended who would like to go home and be reintegrated back into society,” he said. The operations are ongoing.

princess.nkabane@durban.gov.za