FIGHTING CRIME

Rustenburg – Members of the Rustenburg Local Municipality (RLM) and South African Police Service (SAPS) swooped down on criminals over the past week. Starting with the Safe and Clean City Campaign on Friday 23 February, the operation started in the afternoon and lasted late into the night, beginning in the Central Business District (CBD) and spreading to surrounding areas such as Rustenburg East and Rustenburg North.

The executive mayor of Rustenburg, councillor Mpho Khunou, members of RLM and the police joined forces to rid the city of Rustenburg of drugs, human trafficking and prostitution. 

Andrew Seome, external communications officer for the office of the mayor told the Platinum Weekly newspaper: “There had been a massive outcry amongst the people of Rustenburg about drug deals and prostitution occurring daily out in the open.  Although it occurs in every district in Rustenburg, the perpetrators focus their operations in the CBD and surrounding areas such as Rustenburg East and Rustenburg North. The main thrust of the joint operation was crime prevention and the enforcement of municipal by-laws.”

The operation saw clear and effective actions being taken to fight the rising tide of crime. The actions included the demolition of properties (including houses) for operating illegal activities; arresting of drug dealers and people found in possession of drugs and illegal firearms; arrests made, fines imposed for illegal electricity and water connections; bushes being cleared in areas where criminal activities have been on the increase; and businesses being closed for operating illegally,  fines being issued for noncompliance with municipal bylaws.