Police play it cool in Hillbrow
2003-12-30 17:43
Johannesburg - The notorious Hillbrow New Year excesses are the focus of a multi-pronged police and municipal campaign to cool it this year.
The once-prosperous neighbourhood is now teeming with people of many races and countries. Many are poor, many are not and not a few of them are in South Africa illegally, police say.
As the combined forces of the police, Johannesburg emergency services, refuse removal firm Pikitup and the Red Ants moved into the area, the residents either moved away quietly or gathered curiously to watch the goings-on.
World boxing champion Baby Jakes Matlala did not let the occasion go by unnoticed.
Up front in a police car, speaking through a public-address system, he said: "Tomorrow (New Year's Eve) be a good wife; be a good husband. Please let us have no killings and no shooting. Don't do drugs, don't steal."
Many of those hanging about on this warm Tuesday don't immediately connect the booming voice with the world champion boxer, but when they do, fingers point at the diminutive figure in the bright red T-shirt sitting in the police car and the delighted murmur goes out, "It's Baby Jake".
Hauling away the 'ammunition'
Scores of Red Ants in their distinctive overalls and hard hats literally scurried along Hillbrow's streets and alleyways scooping up tons of rubbish, including boxes, wooden trestles, bricks and pipes.
They hoisted their haul into Pikitup trucks so it couldn't be used as ammunition on New Year's Eve.
Dennis Adriao of the police explained: "Basically, we're cleaning up today. Whoever makes a mess tomorrow - they clean up."
He said there would be a massive police presence in the area as the parties got under way.
In past years, television cameras have broadcast images from New Year events in Times Square, Trafalgar Square, Hong Kong, Sydney and finally Hillbrow, South Africa.
What you see from Hillbrow are fridges and beds being thrown from balconies; guns being fired and revellers running riot.
"It gives such a bad impression of this country," says Adriao.
"Nyalas (armoured vehicles) will be stationed throughout Hillbrow. If there is a problem at a certain building we will raid it.
Cops will be on full alert
"If we can't work out who the culprits are we'll take everyone outside and make them clean up. We will not tolerate bad behaviour."
Then it's the turn of national police Commissoner Jacki Selebi.
Looking relaxed in a casual shirt he alighted from his car in "Little Lagos" - an area frequented by Nigerians.
"We agree no one is going to throw things from the top of buildings," he exhorts. "We are going to join the champ here, Baby Jake," (in this campaign) he said.
He implored residents to remain peaceful and "lay off" the fisticuffs and skirmishes with knives and guns.
Adriao said police would be on full alert during the New Year period. Not just in Hillbrow; throughout Gauteng there would be roadblocks and nightclub raids.
- SAPA