BY LERATO PHOSISI
The Lenasia South SAPS has shut down a scrapyard operating in Vlakfontein Extension 1, in a decisive move to curb escalating crime in a community long plagued by theft and vandalism.
The operation, carried out this week, forms part of an intensified police strategy to dismantle criminal networks that thrive on the trade of stolen goods.
According to police, the scrapyard’s measuring scale was confiscated on site, and the owners of the business were apprehended for further questioning. Authorities suspect the facility was operating without full compliance and may have been a hub for stolen copper cables, metal infrastructure and other illicit materials.
Vlakfontein, located south of Johannesburg, has seen a sharp rise in crimes linked to illegal scrapyards — including cable theft that leaves residents without electricity, as well as burglaries targeting homes and businesses for scrap metal.
Lenasia South SAPS says the closure sends a clear warning: businesses that fuel crime by buying stolen goods will not be tolerated.
“Operations like these are crucial to restoring safety and stability in our communities. We are targeting the market for stolen property,” a police source said.
Community members have welcomed the action, calling it a long-overdue step toward reclaiming their neighbourhood from criminal syndicates.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that more operations are expected in the coming weeks as part of a broader crime-fighting initiative across Lenasia South and surrounding areas.
Residents are urged to continue reporting suspicious scrapyard activities to their local SAPS station.
