Waterworks residents frustrated with lack of police visibility

Residents of Waterworks, located behind the Military Base in Lenasia, are raising concerns over the lack of police presence in their area. This community, spanning both Ward 10 in Johannesburg and Ward 17 in Mogale City, has expressed frustration about insufficient law enforcement, which they believe compromises their safety. Despite several requests for increased police attention, they feel neglected.

On January 15, 2025, a local resident reported a robbery at a Pakistani-owned shop at 2 pm. The robber, armed with a gun, stole an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing in a metallic gold VW Polo with registration number HV73FYGP. The resident, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that they did not report the incident to the police due to a lack of trust in law enforcement, citing frequent patrols in Lenasia but almost no police presence in Waterworks.

The resident further claimed that when they attempted to report the robbery, the police refused to open a case, citing the shop owner's failure to comply with regulations.

In response to the community's concerns, Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi encouraged residents to formally open cases to facilitate proper investigations. She also provided the Gauteng Service Complaints number for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), 082 442 2000, for complaints related to police service or misconduct.