Nine Cross Border road buses impounded for fraudulent permits

A multi-disciplinary joint Cross Border Road Transport Operation in the Johannesburg CBD yielded a resounding success after a score of buses were impounded for operating with fraudulent permits.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY OPERATION TARGETS CROSS BORDER BUSES

On Wednesday, 07 June 2023, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers together with the Cross Border Road Transport Agency, South African Police Service (SAPS), Home Affairs (Immigration), Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), and Crime Prevention Wardens conducted a multi-pronged operation to address non-compliance and illegal operations by Cross Border Transport operators and to deal with undocumented persons and unlawful activity at Cross Border Bus Depots.

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JMPD UNPACKS THE SCOPE OF THE OPERATION

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the first phase of the operation was conducted at Fleet Africa Cross Border Transport Facility on Albertina Sisulu Road in Newtown while the second phase of the operation was conducted at Kerk and Nugget Streets, in the Johannesburg Inner City.

“A total of nine (9) buses were impounded for operating contrary to a permit, without a permit, and utilizing a fraudulent permit.”

Fihla

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He added that a total of eighty 80 people were arrested. Seventy-nine (79) of the people were arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act, and one male among the seventy-nine (79) was also charged with bribery.

APART FROM THE PERMITS, POLICE DISCOVER ILLEGAL DIESEL FUEL STATION

“Amidst the operation, a diesel fuel station was found at Fleet Africa, and after inspection, it was discovered that the owner didn’t have a valid permit to operate.
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) Fire Safety officer was summoned, and after further inspection, the fuel station was found not to be complying with the terms of Fire Safety By-Laws, and a notice was sent to the relevant stakeholders instructing the closure of Fleet Africa Transport Facility. The manager of the diesel fuel station attempted to bribe the officers to avoid the closure of the fuel station, and he was immediately arrested,” Fihla detailed.

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“All the arrested suspects were detained at Johannesburg Central SAPS where the undocumented persons were verified by police. Compliance is non-negotiable and these operations will continue in the City of Johannesburg,” he concluded.

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