Residents want SAPS and Home Affairs to deport undocumented and unemployed immigrants back to their countries
SANDRINGHAM– 'We are currently living an area populated by undocumented immigrants the majority of whom are unemployed and they are tenants in our backyards.'
The residents of River Park, North East of Johannesburg, young and old recently march to Sandringham Police Station to tender their list of demands to the law enforcement principals.
Led by community leaders from different formations in society, residents came out in their numbers – the majority of them were senior citizens – and marched from River Park Drive all the way to Sandringham Police Station.
The residents want South African Police Service (SAPS), Johannesburg Metro Police and Department of Home Affairs to embark on an operation that will see all undocumented foreigners being arrested and sent back to their countries of origin.
They also accused police of taking bribes from undocumented foreign nationals and collaborating with criminals that are terrorising residents in the area. Addressing the march outside the police station before handing over the memorandum of demands, community leader Tsietsi Khungoane said the residents of River Park were living in fear because of illegal immigrants that rob people on the streets.
“We are currently living in an area populated by undocumented immigrants, the majority of whom are unemployed and they are tenants in our backyards.
ALSO READ: What does it cost the taxpayer to have foreigners in South African jails?
“These concerns derive from the high level of crime happening in the area and most of the time suspects and perpetrators of crime are foreign people. Indeed River Park has become a hub of illegal immigrants in Johannesburg if not South Africa.
“The stats show that out of 20 people in the area only one is a South African citizen. As the community, we have a fear that what happened in Beirut may happen in River Park. We want answers from all concerned departments in seven days.”
The residents also called on IPID to fast track the investigation process in the case of Webster Matshitela (34) who mysteriously died at Norwood Police Station holding cells on 27 December last year following his arrest by the Sandringham police for pointing a fire at a community member. Lieutenant Colonel George Hlungwani who received the memorandum of demands from the residents on behalf of the station commander said they will escalate all the demands to the principals of SAPS.
