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/ 19 May 2008

Mob violence sweeps Gauteng

Another foreigner has been killed in South Africa as a wave of xenophobic violence spreads across Johannesburg, bringing the weekend death toll to 13, police said on Monday. The violence against foreigners, who are accused by many South Africans of depriving locals of jobs and committing crime, has spread across townships since the beginning of last week.

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/ 15 May 2008

Further clashes in tense Alexandra

Calm returned to Alexandra township on Wednesday night after earlier clashes between police and residents. Hardly any activity was visible late in the night, besides the flashing blue lights of police patrol vehicles. The stand-off between the police and residents arose in the aftermath of xenophobic attacks in the township this week.

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/ 16 April 2008

Cops accused of harassing street traders

The police have been accused of harassing street traders and charging them exorbitant fines. In a street-traders’ survey released on Wednesday, most of the traders interviewed — 94% — said they had been harassed by police. At least 82% of street traders said they had had their goods confiscated by the police and had difficulty in recovering them.

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/ 16 March 2008

Wet weather ahead: Jo’burg drivers told to slow down

Heavy rains, cold weather and strong winds will continue in Gauteng for the rest of the week, the South African Weather Services (SAWS) said on Sunday. This was due to a cold front passing through the area, said SAWS forecaster Evert Sholtz. He said rain and heavy winds would continue on Sunday and Monday would see strong winds blowing throughout Gauteng.

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/ 3 March 2008

Jo’burg speed cameras up and running

Johannesburg road speed cameras will be up and running this week, the Johannesburg metro police department said on Monday. ”There was a growing concern for human life as motorists began using roads as racing tracks when the cameras were not working,” said Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

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/ 16 February 2008

Metro cops complain about speeding drivers

Johannesburg motorists had been using roads as a ”speeding track” since traffic law enforcement authorities in parts of Gauteng were barred from using speed cameras on some of the busiest roads in the city. The cameras were switched off until further notice, after traffic authorities failed to submit applications requesting permission from the National Prosecuting Authority.

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/ 9 February 2008

Isidingo star in hospital after car accident

Soap star Ashleigh Callie, known for her role as Lee Haynes in Isidingo, will undergo surgery at Johannesburg General Hospital following an accident in Linden, it was reported on Saturday. ”The accident took place at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Tana Road last night [Friday],” said Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

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/ 4 February 2008

Dozens caught mid-stream in Jo’burg

Johannesburg’s metro police arrested 61 men for urinating in public in the inner city over the weekend. The offenders were apprehended mainly around hawkers’ stands at St Mary’s cathedral in the city, Joubert Park, Hillbrow and Jeppe station during a metro police operation in the area.

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/ 20 November 2007

Jo’burg metro cops go back to work

Newly appointed Johannesburg metro police officers who downed tools to protest against a lack of equipment went back to work on Tuesday, police said. ”Officers were told that if they did not go back to work then they would be charged, since they form part of an essential service,” said metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

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/ 1 October 2007

Jo’burg metro police deny joining strike

The Johannesburg metro police department has disputed a claim by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) that metro police have joined striking council workers in the city in large numbers. Samwu had issued a statement earlier on Monday claiming 3 000 metro police officers had joined the strike.

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/ 30 August 2007

Metro cops say crime down by 63% in Jo’burg

A reduction of crime since 2006 was the result of a clamp-down conducted by the Johannesburg metro police and the South African Police Service, metro police said on Wednesday. Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said more than 1 000 illegal firearms had been confiscated and armed robbery in the inner-city had been reduced by 63%.