MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Removing Illegal Firearms and Ammunition From the Streets

GAUTENG – Four suspects aged between 23 and 37 will appear in court soon facing a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. This after the police followed an intelligence information on 13 April 2026 at about 00:00 regarding a group of suspicious armed men at a house in Karsen informal settlement in Jeppe.

The police proceeded to the scene, and permission to search was granted. Upon searching the suspects, the police recovered 02 unlicensed 9mm pistols and 92 live ammunition. All four suspects were arrested and detained at Jeppe police station.

Police investigations are continuing.

The Acting District Commissioner for Johannesburg Brigadier Egen Moodley applauded the members for their hard work, commitment to remove illegal firearms from the streets, and for ensuring that residents are and feel safe.

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Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.