In a concerted effort to enforce local by-laws and address the growing concern of illegal settlements, the City of Johannesburg executed a significant operation early this morning at the Ginger Informal Settlement in Sandton. This initiative, supported by the Department of Home Affairs, has resulted in the arrest of more than a dozen undocumented immigrants, underscoring the city’s commitment to combating lawlessness in its northern suburbs.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero confirmed the arrests, stating that the individuals were already in custody and would soon be processed for repatriation. “Well, we have arrested a few undocumented. They are already in the police vans, and they will be taken into custody and then hopefully Home Affairs will act on them and take them back to their countries of origin,” Morero said. He went on to highlight the operation’s broader objectives, adding, “We are also identifying if there are any other criminal activities that are happening here. We have already established that they sell nyaope and the police are acting on that.”
This morning’s operation reflects a growing trend of law enforcement efforts aimed at dismantling illegal informal settlements, a move that has received considerable backing from community members. “We will continue to do the raids,” insisted Morero. “The thing we are doing here is to tell the residents we are acting and dealing with lawlessness in Johannesburg. We are enforcing the law through by-law enforcement and crime prevention.”
The mayor also assured residents of a systematic approach to tackling illegality. “What is critical is the court orders. We have them prepared and we can act in accordance with the law. We can’t allow lawlessness to continue in our city.” His firm stance indicates a potential for more frequent operations to eradicate illegal settlements, with the aim of fostering a safer environment for law-abiding citizens.
Local residents have expressed their support for the raids, highlighting their desire for increased law enforcement presence. Many voiced relief at the actions taken by the city, expressing hopes for regular operations to curb crime in their neighbourhoods. “We are extremely happy to see law enforcement officials conducting raids,” one resident noted. “We hope that such operations can be conducted more regularly.”
This operation at the Ginger Informal Settlement represents just one facet of the city’s broader strategy to reclaim public safety and public spaces in Johannesburg. With promises of ongoing vigilance and proactive measures, the mayor’s commitment marks a pivotal step towards confronting the challenges posed by illegal immigration and associated criminal activities.