Special police teams to be deployed to Diepsloot
Members of the Technical Response Team will start operations
to increase police visibility in Diepsloot today.
Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has told residents of the area in the north of Johannesburg that a special operations team will tackle concerns about poor policing.
Cele and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi met with community members at the Diepsloot Police Station on Friday, after a complete shutdown of the area.
Residents barricaded roads and forced businesses and schools to close their doors on Thursday, as they took to the streets to protest against high levels of crime.
Diepsloot communities blame foreign nationals of fuelling high crime levels and demand that foreigners leave the area.
It follows the murder of Police Captain Oupa Matjie, who was gunned down while in pursuit of suspects a week ago.
Cele confirmed that the suspects are foreign nationals.
“Yes it has been confirmed that the four suspects that have been arrested for this heinous crime are undocumented foreign nationals from Zimbabwe. This has been checked by the Department of Home Affairs,” said Cele.
Community representatives told Cele that some foreign nationals are undocumented and manage to escape the long arm of the law.
According to Cele’s undertaking, the teams that will now be deployed, have the task of addressing these policing concerns.
The Firearms Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control unit will also conduct raids and shut down all establishments operating illegally.
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Motsoaledi and Police Minister Bheki Cele addressed disgruntled residents outside the local police station on Friday. READ: China rushes to build new hospital for virus within 10 days This comes after community members embarked on protest action to boycott criminal activity, which they claim are committed by foreign nationals in the area.