Sergeant Mojapelo
The City’s commitment to urban revitalisation and the rule of law reached a significant milestone this week as the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court handed down multi-year custodial sentences to four men found guilty of vandalising the fire-damaged Usindiso building in Marshalltown.
The judgment concludes a year-long judicial process sparked by the proactive intervention of JMPD officers.
The case dates back to Sunday, 26 January last year, when Officers P. Makgopa and A.V. Baloi were conducting strategic patrols in the Inner City. The Usindiso building, situated at the intersection of Albert and Delvers Streets, had become a precarious hotspot for criminal activity following the tragic fire that gutted the structure.
While patrolling the perimeter, the officers detected suspicious activity within the cordoned premises. Acting on professional intuition, the members entered the structure and apprehended four male suspects red-handed as they used specialised implements to vandalise the interior infrastructure.
“Throughout the trial, Officers Makgopa and Baloi provided pivotal oral testimony, ensuring the state’s case remained robust. The Court subsequently found the accused guilty of Malicious Damage to Property and Trespassing,” explains Angie Mokasi, the JMPD of Director of Operations.
“The conviction serves as a testament to the efficacy of the JMPD’s day-shift patrol strategies,” adds Mokasi, extending high commendation to the “dedicated and gallant officers whose consistent evidence enabled the Court to apply the full might of the law”.
This successful prosecution reinforces the City’s broader mandate to cultivate a safe and secure environment by protecting municipal assets from illicit encroachment and decay.
