Yesterday, a 63 year old business owner was arrested in Industria North during a #BuyaMthetho operation, for illegally connecting power supply to her property.
The suspect was arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), working together with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS).
It is alleged that the property owes the City over R490 000 for rates and services. Power supply to her property was disconnected on the 16th January 2018 by the City’s technicians. Yesterday when the Operation #BuyaMthetho team returned to the property, they found that the electricity to the property was illegally reconnected.
I have instructed the JMPD to monitor properties which have been visited as part of the operation and ensure that services are not illegally reconnected at these sites. If they are reconnected the owners will be arrested immediately.
I have every faith that the JMPD, working with our law enforcement partners, will do all it can to ensure lawbreakers are held to account.
This operation is conducted on a daily basis, as a ward based “raid” initiative.
Operation #BuyaMthetho is a joint operation between all key City departments and entities such as GFIS, JMPD, Environmental Health, Social Development, Infrastructure Services, the City’s legal department, and Development Planning to name but a few. The operation’s main focus is to ensure city by-law are adhered to by all within the City and that the rule of law becomes the order of the day.
The City, working with all state enforcement agencies, will not leave any stone unturned when dealing with criminal activities within our area of jurisdiction.
I would also like to encourage people to report any theft, fraud and corruption activities through our 24-hour tip-off hotline 0800 002 587 or visit the GFIS offices situated at 48
Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
Media Enquiries:
Lucky Sindane
Director: Strategic Stakeholder Management
Group Forensic and Investigation Service
Cell: 065 865 0696
Email: LuckySi@joburg.org.za