/ 1 January 2009

Rain the best policeman as violence drops in Hillbrow

Hillbrow, notorious for its New Year's mayhem, was more subdued this year after a downpour of rain. Police blockaded Hillbrow in attempt to make c

Hillbrow, notorious for its New Year’s mayhem, was more subdued this year after a downpour of rain.

”Rain is the best policeman!” said Superintendent Eugene Opperman.

Police had blockaded Hillbrow in attempt to make crowd control easier for the end of year celebration, an attempt made moot by the rain and thunderstorms that hit Johannesburg at about 10pm.

They patrolled the cordoned areas with a few fast moving bakkies and cars but their vehicle of choice was the seven-tonne Nyala personnel carrier.

”We don’t like to take chances,” said Inspector Tsanku Tsunke.

The heavily armoured vehicles are necessary, thanks to the New Year’s tradition in Hillbrow of throwing anything large, heavy or merely convenient off rooftops on to the street.

Police had pre-empted much of this with helicopter patrols ahead of time that identified where Hillbrow revellers had stockpiled stoves, refrigerators and mattresses in preparation for New Year’s Eve.

After sighting the potential projectiles, police then approached the building’s owners, who would remove the potential projectiles.

While these efforts generally stopped heavy objects being thrown, Hillbrow residents still hurled bottles and bricks, sometimes at vehicles and often pedestrians. One reveller came within a metre of sending a bottle into the open door of a Nyala.

Pedestrians on a leisurely stroll are a rare sight on any Hillbrow night. But the hail of glass and bricks caused people — some of them mothers with babies strapped to their backs — to run desperately from one shelter to another.

Opperman said that every available police officer, including ones who normally do administrative work, were out on the streets.

”In the end, thanks to the rain they were less busy than they had anticipated — and grateful for it”, said Opperman.

One person was injured. A Midrand man was shot in the leg by a group of men while he visited his brother in Hillbrow.

”When they saw me coming they shot me in the feet,” the man said. He received help from security guards who then flagged down a police vehicle. He was taken to a hospital by paramedics.

In addition to this, Opperman said that a fight between some young men had to be broken up. He attributed the fight to alcohol.

”Liquor makes them brave,” said Opperman. – Sapa