Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) wishes Officer Maxwell Bandezi from the Public Order Policing Unit a speedy recovery.
Officer Bandezi was shot and injured whilst conducting an operation on Thursday, 09 March 2023, when officers were evicting a group of people who had illegally appropriated the freight container apartments at Pretoria Main Road and 8th Street in Marlboro Gardens.
“Whilst proceeding with the operation, the officers came across resistance and had to use rubber bullets to move the people who had illegally inhabited the property out,” said Xolani Fihla, JMPD spokesperson.
Fihla said the group was evicted safely from the property when suddenly gunshots rang from outside the premises.
“When the officers responded and inspected, the people who they had earlier evicted regrouped and re-entered the property firing shots.
“In the event, officer Bandezi was shot in the arm and the torso. The group fled, and hid within the premises.
“The officers searched the area and apprehended six males who were hiding in a building.
“Whilst continuing with the search, the officers recovered a firearm in one of the rooms,” said Fihla.
He said the suspects were arrested and charged with attempted murder, trespassing, and malicious damage to property. They were detained at Bramley SAPS.
“Officer Bandezi was rushed to Milpark hospital where he was treated, and he is gradually recovering from his injuries.”
When Alex Reporter team visited the temporary residential unit, near the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA), the area was protected by heavily armed officers belonging to Red Ant Security.
A JMPD officer said the locals that had illegally occupied the containers left four cars on the premises.
” We impounded the vehicles. When we arrived, the residents were so relaxed and drinking as if the area was theirs,” said the officer.
” We are also aware of the hijackings of other containers in Marlboro. But, we have a court order for them and expulsion will be painful,” he warned.
When we arrived at the other containers, next to Alexandra Automotive Hub, the residents were just chilling and playing music inside the yard.