Business owners in and around the Marabastad precinct have met with Pretoria Central police, private security companies and the local Community Policing Forum to tighten co‑operation after recent criminal threats in the area, according to reporting of the meeting held on 22 October.
Co‑ordinated security response
The session, held at the Marabastad Oriental Boardroom and led by sector commander Warrant Officer Queen Mahlangu, brought together municipal stakeholders and private partners to agree on a stepped‑up security presence in one of Pretoria’s major business hubs.
Station spokesperson Sergeant Thabang Nkhumise told reporters that a significant concern among shop owners and traders was being subjected to criminal threats. He said security companies and the railway police had been engaged to work jointly and increase visible policing in the sector.
“Security companies and railway police have been engaged to work together and increase security in the sector, after several reported crime threats in one of the major business hubs,” Sergeant Thabang Nkhumise said.
Clean‑up drive and hawker engagement
Alongside policing, the meeting prioritised cleanliness and public health. Police warned that littering and the disposal of food into drainage systems were causing regular blockages and posed pollution and health risks in the precinct.
Delegates agreed to an ongoing outreach campaign to engage hawkers and the public on responsible waste disposal until conditions are manageable. The outreach will involve business owners, hawkers and community structures working together to keep public spaces clear of refuse and food waste.
- Increased patrols: coordinated operations with private security and the railway police.
- Clean‑up outreach: regular engagements with hawkers and traders to prevent littering and blocked drains.
- Community reporting: urging residents to report crime through official SAPS channels.
How residents can report crime
Police reiterated the channels available to the public for reporting criminal activity in Pretoria Central. The contact details given during the meeting are:
| Reporting option | Number / App |
|---|---|
| Emergency / general SAPS | 08600 10111 |
| Emergency mobile | 112 |
| MySAPS app | Available on mobile platforms (MySAPS) |
| Pretoria Central station | 012 353 5001 |
Sergeant Nkhumise urged the community and businesses to use these channels and to work with police when incidents occur. The meeting highlighted that joint reporting and prompt information sharing are critical to successful policing and crime prevention.
Local consequences and next steps
For Marabastad traders, the immediate benefit of the meeting is a promise of more co‑ordinated security operations and cleaner public spaces. Visible patrols by a combination of SAPS, railway police and private security can deter opportunistic crime and reassure customers, which is important for footfall in the precinct.
However, the sustainable reduction of crime and environmental hazards will depend on continuous co‑operation between authorities, business owners, hawkers and the broader community. The outreach to hawkers is aimed at practical behaviour change — preventing drain blockages that cause local flooding and health risks — and officials said this work will be ongoing until the area is manageable.
Residents and traders with further information or concerns were invited to contact the Pretoria Central station directly at the numbers supplied during the meeting. The engagement in Marabastad follows growing emphasis across metros on public‑private partnerships to tackle local crime and urban management challenges.
