The Moroka police in Soweto have denied allegations that they were not doing enough to stop car hijackings and burning of cars at an open field next to Isaacson Primary School.
Two weeks ago, The Star reported that the community woke up to daily burning of hijacked and stolen cars.
Community leader, Mafahleng Albert Selepe, said their complaints to the police had gone unheeded.
“Since the last time we spoke, nothing has changed. We continue to wake up to stolen and hijacked cars being burnt, and no police visibility to monitor the situation,” he said.
However, police spokesperson, Colonel Noxolo Kweza, denied the accusations.
“The management of Moroka police station have recently been alerted to the specific area and crime activities in that space through engagements with the community. To say over 20 vehicles are being stripped on a weekly basis is an exaggeration of the situation. Since this information was brought to the attention of the station, Crime Intelligence covert operators have been deployed and they have activated their sources,” Kweza said.
But video clips of cars being burnt suggest that law enforcement is not in control. The Star has seen some of the videos.
However, Kweza was adamant that there was constant visible policing in the area.
"Visible Policing working together with other law enforcement agencies (including Traffic Wardens) as well as security companies through SAPS and Business Against Crime South Africa collaboration Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative have so far worked as a multi-disciplinary which has successfully arrested 35 suspects for possession of stolen/hijacked vehicles, 41 stolen/hijacked vehicles have been recovered while 896 second hand goods/scrapyards have been visited and closed for failing to comply with the second hand goods act.
“We continue to appeal to the community to report any criminality and criminals to the local police station or to SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 1011,” she said.
In 2022, Moroka was reported to be one of the top car hijacking hotspots in the country.
According to the latest crime figures, of the 5 973 cases of hijacking, 3 010 (50%) took place in Gauteng. This was followed by KwaZulu-Natal, which accounted for 14% (834 cases) of all hijackings in the country.
Two weeks ago, The Star reported that former Banyana Banyana player, Portia Modise’s car was hijacked from her White City Jabavu home.
In a video circulated on social media, Modise said a group of guys pointed firearms at her and took the car along with her belongings.
These cars, which are usually stolen in and around Soweto and other parts of the city, are stripped bare in the middle of the night, community members say.
The Star
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