Crime crackdown at Cape’s transport hubs

Cape Town - In its attempt to clean up Cape Town’s biggest public transport hubs, the city’s Public Transport Interchange (PTI) Unit has made scores of arrests for assaults and drug possession while also clamping down on traffic offences.

The city said there had been a marked drop in cases of vandalism and crime at transport interchanges since the unit’s launch in December.

During its first three months of operation, it issued just under 5 000 fines worth more than R2 million, and 57 suspects were arrested on a range of charges. The most common offences are by-law-related, such as littering and illegal trading. However, there have been cases of drug possession and dealing.

To this end the unit and the city’s Drug Busters are developing a new strategy to tackle drug dealing at transport hubs. They are working with sources to nab offenders.

The unit is currently working at the busiest transport interchanges in Bellville, the city centre and Joe Gqabi in Philippi.

Richard Bosman, the city’s executive director for safety and security, said it was estimated that more than 80 000 people moved through the Bellville and city centre interchanges each day.

At the station deck, the unit had arrested five people for drug possession and four for drug dealing. In Bellville and Joe Gqabi, there were another 10 arrests for a range of offences.

“None of the areas are more problematic than the others, but Bellville, Cape Town and Joe Gqabi are by far the busiest. There have been sporadic arrests for drug possession at both Bellville and Cape Town interchanges.”

Bosman said 127 traffic fines were also issued at these two interchanges.

The unit also issued another 10 fines for by-law offences.

He said apart from these offences, the unit had also helped people who had been stabbed and assaulted.

Towards the end of last year, it stepped in to prevent a kidnapping at Cape Town station.

The unit is also set to hire four more members to work in the Grand Parade area. The goal is to have the unit operating at all of the major transport interchanges.

“The city would like to extend these services to all major PTIs, but this is subject to budget availability,” said Bosman.

In the city centre, the police department ran a six-month “focus operation”, which started in March.

“It was the beginning of the winter season, which means daylight hours were reduced. Long nights allow more opportunity for antisocial behaviour,” said Bosman.

Officers focused on the Grand Parade, the Station Deck and the bus terminus.

More than 300 traffic fines were issued to private motorists and taxis during the operation. The most common offences were parking violations, causing obstructions, unlicensed vehicles and expired licences.

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za

Cape Argus