Durban authorities stage early-morning operation at Lancers Road building deemed ‘major crime generator’

Durban authorities carried out a multi-departmental operation on Monday morning at a building on Lancers Road in the city centre identified as a “major crime generator,” officials said. The building sits near health facilities, taxi ranks, businesses and the Early Morning Market and was the focus of an early-morning profiling operation.

Joint operation and agencies involved

The operation began just after 5am and involved the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Durban Metro Police Service and a range of municipal line departments. Participating teams included human settlements, social facilitators, fire services, building inspectors, water, electricity, Durban Solid Waste (DSW), the strategy office, an I.T. support team, security management and health.

Why the building was targeted

Metro Police Special Operations’ Brigadier Paboo Sewpersad described the building as “one of the worst buildings in the city and it’s a major crime generator in the city.” He said officers found a large party ongoing when they arrived and reported seeing alcohol, drugs and continuous late-night activity.

“When we arrived here just after five this morning, there was a huge party which was going on, and it seems like these parties go on 24/7. There’s alcohol, drugs, and all kinds of activities here.”

Living conditions and by-law concerns

Sewpersad and municipal teams noted multiple compliance and service-delivery issues at the property. The water department indicated there is no internal water source and residents appear to obtain water from the nearby taxi rank or a garage. Officials also pointed to illegal electricity sourcing from a nearby substation.

“There are various businesses here; there’s non-compliance with lots of by-laws in this area, in this building itself. They use the building as a storage facility. They use the building for prostitution. There’s just general non-compliance,”

Durban Solid Waste was expected to report on significant piles of rubbish found at the property. Sewpersad said departments had already collected data during the operation and would compile a comprehensive report to inform a plan of action.

“All the departments that I’ve mentioned have done their capturing in terms of data. We will go back to the drawing board and to the boardroom and establish and compile a comprehensive report. With that comprehensive report, we’ll then formulate a plan of action for this building, because this building is the crime and grime of Durban,”

Residents’ accounts

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said people living in the building had no choice but to remain there despite it being unsuitable for habitation. He confirmed the lack of electricity and water and said residents either sourced water from nearby areas or bought it. He also said rent was about R700, depending on where in the property one lived.

Next steps

Officials said they would await departmental reports, including from the water department and DSW, and then develop a coordinated plan of action for the building based on the compiled information.