By Jonk wa Mashamba
Editor-In-Chief
news@alexreporter.co.za
Ward 116 councillor Adolf Marema said he received bad news that Lindela police officers are taking bribes and releasing the illegal immigrants detained under last week’s program.
Last week, police arrested 400 illegal immigrants during Operation Restore. In Alexandra, 167 suspects were arrested, while 179 suspects were arrested in Diepkloof and 70 in Hillbrow as part of Operation Restore.
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Netshiunda reported that the suspects were arrested for various crimes.
“There is a lady that we know who have shared this news. She is an illegal immigrant who was arrested and now she is released after giving a bribe of R3500,” Marema said.
Alex Station Commander Brig Lindiwe Magudulela said: “Now this is very disturbing and we are taking this up.
“Hope this person would be arrested by the end of the day, including the officer. We cannot entertain such on WhatsApp group and not take action.
“Please provide the police with information,” she asked Marema on the WhatsApp group.
Former Chief of JMPD, who now is the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) on Public Safety, David Tembe said: ” We arrest them, the next day they are here.
“During the era of mayor (Herman) Mashaba, we were dealing were the issue of undocumented people in the city. But, we were branded xenophobic.”
During his visit to Alex, Tembe said that the problem of illegal immigrants was beyond his control.
“If you work here illegally (in South Africa), you have to go back. Let’s regulate, let’s close the border because we will keep on arresting and they will come back.
“This is a vicious circle. We don’t expect the JMPD to solve issues that are national. We are only in charge of the city of Johannesburg. This is a South African problem that must be dealt with nationally,” he said.
In the interview with Scrolla.Africa, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba did not mince his words as he condemned the “lawlessness” of members of anti-immigration groups Operation Dudula and the Alexandra Dudula Movement.
Mashaba has also blamed the ANC for the clashes in Alexandra between Dudula Movement members and foreign traders.
He also said that the ruling party was responsible for similar clashes in other parts of the country, and condemned the vigilantes who are attempting to illegally deport undocumented immigrants.
“I want to caution South Africans against taking the law into their own hands,” Mashaba said.
“You are rightly frustrated about illegal immigration, but you must never forget – the systematic failure to manage immigration lies squarely at the feet of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
“That is where we must direct our anger!”
Mashaba stated that community members were not allowed to remove illegal immigrants because it was the responsibility of law enforcement agencies.
Through a statement, Chris Mabunda, Chairperson of by Alexandra Police Forum, deemed the recent incidents in Alexandra xenophobic.
“The Alexandra CPF condemns the xenophobic occurrences of the day in our township, especially Pan African (Mall). We believe that we still have an opportunity to calm down and engage as the community and get the solution.
“We therefore request peace and ask our community and government to have a dialogue about this burning issue.
“We request all people people who are involved to form 5 Representatives and have a robust engagement.
“It’s not so long ago we experienced the looting that left us devastated as the township. Let’s be responsible citizens.”
