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A 32 year old male suspect was arrested yesterday in Mayfair for attempting to bribe a team leader of Operation #BuyaMthetho with R5000.  The suspect was arrested by the South African Police Services (SAPS) working together with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS).

The suspect is detained at the Johannesburg Central Police Station.  He will appear at Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 February 2018.

Last week, we launched operation #BuyaMthetho which has seen the City’s technicians on a daily basis disconnecting water and electricity supply to properties that are in arrears and those that have illegally connected the services.

I have been informed that the suspect’s property owes the City R900 000 for rates and services.  When the team arrived at the said property they found that the electricity was illegally connected.  It is alleged that the suspect then offered the team leader R5000 in order for him not to disconnect the power supply.

A trap was then set up and the suspect was arrested after paying the R5000 bribe to the official.

Since the operation launched early last week we have already arrested 7 people for illegally reconnecting services that was previously cut off. Instead of coming forward and making payment arrangements some residents approach our officials to illegally reconnect their services.

I have instructed the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to monitor these properties 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. 

Operation #BuyaMthetho is a new multi-departmental operation aimed at enforcing by-laws and bringing the rule of law to the City of Johannesburg. 

This operation is conducted on a daily basis, as a ward based “raid” initiative.  

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

For further information contact:
Lucky Sindane
Director: Strategic Stakeholder Management
Group Forensic and Investigation Services
Cell: 065 865 0696
Email: LuckySi@joburg.org.za

Or

Luyanda Mfeka
Director: Mayoral Communications
Office of the Executive Mayor
Cell: 076 171 5978
Email: luyandam@joburg.org.za