THERE is an increase in murder cases in Soweto.
This was confirmed by the head of communications for police in Joburg, Captain Jeff Phora.
Phora said this was due to the random shootings around Gauteng and Soweto.
"Since the Orlando shooting where a lot of people were shot, there has been no rest," said Phora
He said the incidents of finding bodies lying on the streets or the park are isolated incidents which might be caused by people trying to commit crimes such as robberies and then somebody gets shot and dies.
He said the instruction from the provincial commissioner is that there should be more boots on the ground.
"We are already doing that. We have intensified our Okae Molao Operations high density operations, and we are launching another operation called Shanyela with our crime intelligence on the ground," said Phora.
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He told Daily Sun that in terms of hijackings, they have already picked up two suspects and have identified a group of Coloured men who were operating in a Quantum.
"Our primary investigations have also revealed that there's 14 of them operating around Soweto in a Kombi. We have arrested two and are anticipating arresting the other 12 who are on the run," he said.
Phora said Moroka Police Station is among the top 30 cop shops leading in crime and murder cases, and this is according to the stats released by the minister.
Though he couldn't confirm if Soweto is leading with crime issues in Gauteng, he said the police have increased their visibility in communities so they can catch the syndicates operating in the kasis. .
Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man who works at a Licencing Department as an examiner for drivers Licences was murdered at Mofolo Park, Soweto last Thursday.
According to the police, the man was off duty during the incident. The deceased sustained two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and behind the left ear.
Phora said that Joburg police are hot on the heels of murder suspects following the discovery of the 60-year-old's body at Mofolo Park.
