Mogale City Local Municipality joined hands with the Gauteng municipalities in the signing of the groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for effective borderless municipal law enforcement.
The signing ceremony held at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Soweto Campus Sports grounds, on 15 March 2025, laid a foundation for Gauteng municipalities, including the three Metros, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane and law enforcement agencies to collaborate in the fight against crime.
The high-level ceremony led by the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Cogta and Department of Infrastructure Development (DID), Jacob Mamabolo, was attended by the Executive Mayors, Municipal Manager and Members of the Mayoral Committees (MMC’s) responsible for Safety took an undertaking to deal with crime collectively.
The ceremony kicked off with two major roadblocks held along the Golden Highway that connects Johannesburg, Ennerdale, Evaton and Sebokeng, leading to Sedibeng, the others were held at Dobsonville, near Harmony Gold Mine, as well as the Chris Hani Road leading to Maponya Mall and the last one near the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
The roadblocks were led by the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni in partnership with the law enforcement agencies from all the municipalities in Gauteng. During these roadblocks, more than 300 suspects were arrested on charges related to murder, Gender Based Violence, three firearms with live ammunition were also recovered, 125 illegal immigrants were also arrested, 38 Spaza shops were raided and 20 were closed for non-complaint.
The MOU which is dubbed the ‘collaborative effort to deal with crime and grime’, will allow local municipalities law enforcing agencies to work together, more so, during the busy times of the year such as the Easter and festive seasons, as well addressing illegal dumping’s.
The crime prevention programmes will also be extended to townships as well as raiding non-compliant Spaza shops and counterfeit goods. In his address during the signing of the MOU, Premier Lesufi, announced that all the municipalities have endorsed the MOU and are committed to work together in dealing with crime and flushing out criminals in Gauteng.
“We are today signing a document that commits ourselves in making that we reclaim our province and turn it into a safe province, where women and children live freely without fear of being harassed or raped,” Lesufi emphasised. “After we have signed this memorandum of understanding, Gauteng will be a borderless province where drug lords, rapist and criminals will have sleepless nights. As from today we are going unleash all our resources to make sure that we reclaim our cities, townships and highjacked buildings,” he added.
Premier Lesufi also added that the collective law enforcement agencies will pull out all the resources and address crime in crime infested areas like Jukulyn in Soshanguve and Olievenhoutbosch in Centurion, Tshwane. He also added that GBV and femicide should be declared a number one priority in addressing crime. He said the SAPS and its stakeholder agencies should have a 72-hour notice in addressing GBV and femicide.
City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero also added his voice and committed his law enforcing agencies to reclaim the City of Joburg from crime and highjacked buildings. He said the City of Joburg cannot be allowed to decay under his watch and committed to reclaim Joburg back to its glory days.
Sipho None
Soweto Sunrise News
