91 Ugandans arrested in South Africa in three years

CRIME

A total of 91 Ugandans were among the 7,841 foreign nationals who were arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, between 2016 and 2019 over alleged involvement in a string of cases.

The offences in which the 91 Ugandans were arrested by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) ranged from assault, bribery, possession of illegal firearms, theft, and murder, among others.

However, the biggest number of suspects were from Zimbabwe: 2865, Mozambique: 1382 and Nigeria: 765. The other foreign countries whose nationals were involved in criminality are; Malawi: 420, Tanzania: 334, Ethiopia: 215, Cameroon: 140, and Congo: 104.

According to media reports on various South African online news agencies, the staggering figures were recently shared by Chief of JMPD, David Tembe, at the release of the department's monthly performance results for September 2019.

The Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, Michael Sun, said all the arrests made were before obtaining the person's nationality and they were not targeting anyone.

"We are not apologetic for sharing information and we are not targeting a race, ethnic or gender and we will continue doing our work despite all the challenges we are experiencing," Sun was quoted as saying.

The results were only initiated after outgoing Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba came into office.

"For us, as a nation to succeed, we need to make tough decisions. You need to take decisions of an unpopular nature and we are prepared to do so," Mashaba was quoted as saying at the launch of the JMPD performance results.

"One of the pillars we came into office with is to ensure that we deliver service with pride. We are glad that we are finally seeing the results and the JMPD is one of the most respected police agencies in the country currently," he said

Mashaba, whose last day in the office was November 27, said it was the duty of the media and civilians to question the next mayor should the annual report not be released as usual.

JMPD officers in respective regions were also awarded and lauded for the work they do in the areas in combating crime and for a stellar performance overall. Tembe attributed the excellent officers' work ethic to working in a healthy progressive and inspiring environment.

Over the years, a number of Ugandans have been arrested in different parts of South Africa over alleged involvement in various criminal acts. Whereas some have since been released and/or deported, others are still languishing in South African jails.

One such deported suspect was Patrick Agaba alias Pato, who was arrested and detained in Randburg, Johannesburg.

Unlike other Ugandans arrested for committing crimes in South Africa, Agaba was arrested on suspicion that he was involved in the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara in Uganda, before fleeing to South Africa.

Susan, 28, was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, and her body was recovered from Kitiko village along the Entebbe expressway on February 27.

She was the cashier at the Hoima-based Bwendero Dairy Farm. A daughter of businessman John Fitzgerald Magara, Susan was buried at her ancestral home in Hoima.