By Sihle Nzima and Kwanele Khanye
An early morning clean-up operation in the Durban CBD this week has led to the arrest of a number of undocumented foreigners and homeless people.
The eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier’s Office, Correctional Services, Metro Police and the provincial Community Safety and Liaison conducted a joint raid at Albert Park on 14 October, which they said is known to be a hot spot for crimes such as theft out of motor vehicles, smash-and-grab incidents and robberies
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that during the operation, police demolished informal structures built in public space near the traffic lights under the M4 Highway bridge.
He said: “Inside those structures, we found syringes with blood and several homeless people suffering from various medical conditions, including open wounds. The emergency medical services personnel treated the sick at the scene.
He added that the verification process for those who were taken in was in progress. “So far, two individuals have been linked positively to crimes through their fingerprints. One of them had been on the wanted list since 2001 and we are investigating the cases he may be connected to.”
KZN premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said this initiative was aimed at stopping illegal drug activities and apprehending undocumented foreigners and South Africans involved in crime and drug abuse.
“The purpose is to deal with crime. People here are building shelters illegally and a lot of illegal activities are taking place. The issue of the drug exchange and some undocumented foreign nationals were making it their home here. There is no place for undocumented foreign nationals. Every criminal and undocumented foreign national must know that this province does not belong to them.”
The homeless people who were rounded up from the scene were transferred to shelters in Durban.
One of them, Xolani Shozi, from Umlazi, who has been on the street for 15 years, said he was determined to change for his son’s sake.
“My boy is growing up and I want to be a better example for him. I don’t want him to follow in my footsteps and now I see that change is possible,” he said.
KZN Police Services said all suspects will be brought to court after the verification has been completed.
