Warnings turn to action as police arrest 95 in Lenasia crackdown

Law enforcement agencies moved from words to action during a series of high-visibility operations across Lenasia over the weekend.

Residents, motorists, and businesses witnessed a heavy deployment of SAPS officers, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and various private security companies as co-ordinated operations got underway recently.

Officers conducted business inspections, vehicle stop-and-search operations, compliance checks and crime prevention patrols throughout the area.

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The operations resulted in the arrest of 95 suspects. Of these, 92 were arrested for alleged immigration-related offences after they were found without the required documentation.

Police also arrested one suspect for possession of a hijacked motor vehicle, one for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle and another for shoplifting.

The operation came only a day after Gauteng’s provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, reiterated during a provincial media briefing that employers who knowingly hire or harbour undocumented foreign nationals will continue to face fines of R10, 000 for each offence.

However, while the arrests of undocumented workers were confirmed, police had not, at the time of publication, indicated whether any employers had been arrested or fined for allegedly employing undocumented foreign nationals.

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Police have not indicated whether further arrests are expected, but confirmed that similar operations will continue across the district.

“The suspects will appear in the local magistrates court soon. The police will continue with these operations to ensure that communities are and feel safe,” said Johannesburg district corporate communications co-ordinator, Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane.