Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela said the Hillbrow police station, which is one of the busiest in the country, only recorded one serious offence by midnight.
Diepsloot has been grappling with a surge in murders and other crimes, but despite desperate pleas for government intervention, help is in short supply.
Johannesburg District Commissioner Max Masha said police were limited by being unable to immediately deport undocumented people after arresting them, clogging the provinces jails and prisons.