Government’s Operation Fiela – aimed at cracking down on crime in communities and restoring order to areas hit by xenophobic violence – has led to a series of seizure operations and 430 arrests.
This is according to minister in the Presidency for performance monitoring and evaluation‚ Jeff Radebe. He was briefing reporters in Pretoria on Tuesday morning‚ following President Jacob Zuma’s Freedom Day address.
Zuma used his Freedom Day address on Monday to urge other countries to “handle their citizens with care” as they immigrated to South Africa because of hardships in their countries of origin.
These remarks are bound to make this week’s extra-ordinary Southern African Development Community summit a tense affair.
Zuma is scheduled to attend the meeting on Wednesday with International Relations minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane‚ Trade& Industry Minister Rob Davies and Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Tuesday’s briefing was the first by the Inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) on migration since it was established by Mr Zuma. The IMC was established to look into the causes of recent attacks on foreign nationals and possible interventions‚ including possible migration policy changes.
The IMC includes national Police Minister Nathi Nhleko‚ Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula‚ Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and State Security Minister David Mahlobo.
Radebe said through Operation Fiela 265 suspects have been arrested and charged for 150 cases of public violence. He said 165 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and would be deported to their countries of origin. He said 423 suspects wanted in connection with other crimes have also been traced.
“Our efforts in law enforcement have yielded positive results. Peace and calm has returned. Operation Fiela is aimed at ridding South Africa of illegal weapons‚ drug dens and prostitution rings. We intend to sweep our public places clean so that people can be and feel safe‚” Radebe said.
He detailed four seizure operations — three in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria — where arrests were made and items‚ including liquor‚ drugs‚ weapons and goods believed to be stolen were confiscated.
Mapisa-Nqakula said the SA National Defence Force would be deployed to provide support for SA Police Service personnel conducting raid and search operations “for as long as they are needed”.
Regarding the killing of Mozambican national Emmanuel Jossias Sithole‚ Mahlobo said the incident would not be treated as a specific xenophobic incident.
“It was just pure robbery that happened to Emmanuel. The fact that a wallet was not removed does not mean it isn’t a criminal matter. We know that cigarettes were being stolen but we will not go into details because the matter is before the courts‚” Mahlobo said.
Dlamini warned against “insensitivity” and “opportunism” in the face of displaced foreign nationals. She was tacitly referring to Economic Freedom Fighters visiting displacement camps to provide blankets and mattresses to victims.
“We must remind everyone here that there has been a process and procedure of donations to these temporary facilities. Committees that have both South African and foreign nation officials have been serving in these committees‚” she said
Radebe details IMC's anti crime progress
Government’s Operation Fiela – aimed at cracking down on crime in communities and restoring order to areas hit by xenophobic violence – has led to a series of seizure operations and 430 arrests.
This is according to minister in the Presidency for performance monitoring and evaluation‚ Jeff Radebe. He was briefing reporters in Pretoria on Tuesday morning‚ following President Jacob Zuma’s Freedom Day address.
Zuma used his Freedom Day address on Monday to urge other countries to “handle their citizens with care” as they immigrated to South Africa because of hardships in their countries of origin.
These remarks are bound to make this week’s extra-ordinary Southern African Development Community summit a tense affair.
Zuma is scheduled to attend the meeting on Wednesday with International Relations minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane‚ Trade& Industry Minister Rob Davies and Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Tuesday’s briefing was the first by the Inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) on migration since it was established by Mr Zuma. The IMC was established to look into the causes of recent attacks on foreign nationals and possible interventions‚ including possible migration policy changes.
The IMC includes national Police Minister Nathi Nhleko‚ Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula‚ Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and State Security Minister David Mahlobo.
Radebe said through Operation Fiela 265 suspects have been arrested and charged for 150 cases of public violence. He said 165 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and would be deported to their countries of origin. He said 423 suspects wanted in connection with other crimes have also been traced.
“Our efforts in law enforcement have yielded positive results. Peace and calm has returned. Operation Fiela is aimed at ridding South Africa of illegal weapons‚ drug dens and prostitution rings. We intend to sweep our public places clean so that people can be and feel safe‚” Radebe said.
He detailed four seizure operations — three in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria — where arrests were made and items‚ including liquor‚ drugs‚ weapons and goods believed to be stolen were confiscated.
Mapisa-Nqakula said the SA National Defence Force would be deployed to provide support for SA Police Service personnel conducting raid and search operations “for as long as they are needed”.
Regarding the killing of Mozambican national Emmanuel Jossias Sithole‚ Mahlobo said the incident would not be treated as a specific xenophobic incident.
“It was just pure robbery that happened to Emmanuel. The fact that a wallet was not removed does not mean it isn’t a criminal matter. We know that cigarettes were being stolen but we will not go into details because the matter is before the courts‚” Mahlobo said.
Dlamini warned against “insensitivity” and “opportunism” in the face of displaced foreign nationals. She was tacitly referring to Economic Freedom Fighters visiting displacement camps to provide blankets and mattresses to victims.
“We must remind everyone here that there has been a process and procedure of donations to these temporary facilities. Committees that have both South African and foreign nation officials have been serving in these committees‚” she said
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos