A major multi-agency law enforcement operation in the Johannesburg inner city yesterday resulted in the arrest of approximately 50 individuals for various offenses, including being in the country illegally and possession of drugs.
The high-impact operation, which targeted the area known as Dragon City, was a coordinated effort by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Authorities stated the goal was to reclaim hijacked buildings, tackle criminal activity in known hotspots, and restore order by enforcing by-laws and safety regulations.
An on-scene report described a chaotic scene upon the arrival of law enforcement, with a large group of people seen fleeing from police. It was reported that many of those who ran were foreign nationals who did not possess identification documents, mistakenly believing the officers were from the Department of Home Affairs.
MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, provided a detailed update on the operation’s findings. He confirmed that between 50 and 60 individuals without IDs were taken in by Home Affairs officials for processing and tracing to determine their origins.
Beyond immigration issues, the operation uncovered severe safety violations within the building. Tshwaku highlighted critical failures, including improper storage of goods blocking passageways, a lack of updated building plans, and a complete absence of certified fire equipment.
“In case of fire you must ensure that the fire engines are able to connect up properly,” Tshwaku stated, emphasizing that the lack of certification impacts insurance and creates a severe public safety risk.
Inspectors also discovered individuals selling goods from makeshift shacks located directly beneath electrical pylons, a situation Tshwaku described as “very dangerous.” Additionally, some individuals were found in possession of drugs, though the exact quantity was still being confirmed.
The operation also identified the presence of counterfeit goods, though officials noted that seizing them requires the presence of brand owners and SARS officials, which was not part of this specific operation.
The building’s management was issued a compliance notice and a fine, giving them 30 days to rectify the glaring safety issues. They were instructed to work with Emergency Management Services (EMS) and town planning to address the deficiencies. Certain fixes, however, were demanded with immediate effect.
“The certification of the fire must happen today… latest tomorrow,” Tshwaku said, also ordering the immediate removal of flammable materials, specifically mentioning hair extensions being stored and sold in an unsafe manner. Management agreed to comply and is expected to produce a project plan for the required changes.
MMC Tshwaku warned that failure to comply within the 30-day window would leave the city with “no other option but to… trigger JMPD to come now and enforce by law.” He acknowledged the city’s shortage of inspectors as a reason for granting the compliance period but stressed that in cases of extreme danger, such as overcrowded, non-compliant buildings, the law allows for immediate shutdowns to prevent potential disaster.
The management of Dragon City declined to engage with the media on the allegations.
