PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN

The multi-agency approach of tackling the drug and gang violence in Eldorado Park that President of the Republic, Honourable Jacob Zuma has been advocating for, is now beginning to yield positive results.  This  mandate speaks of a multi-pronged approach in the fight against crime, combining aspects of crime prevention, crime combating while at the same time, improving socio-economic conditions.

In March this year, the President accompanied by various Cabinet Ministers, Premier of Gauteng, MECs and other senior government officials visited Eldorado Park, which has an estimated population of 200 000. The community had written a letter to the President requesting his personal intervention to address the growing drug problem.  He responded by tasking the government delegation, both at national and provincial levels to begin to work together in addressing these challenges.

Today, the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa revealed in a Parliamentary reply to the National Council of Provinces that 1431 drug lords were arrested since the President’s intervention.  Of this total, 1098 are awaiting trial, 1095 received bail, 3 are still in custody and 289 have been convicted on criminal charges.  What is worrying though, is that 63 of the arrestees were children, whose ages are between 14 and 17 years old.

“The distribution and sale of drugs are a major contributory factors to gang violence which inevitably would affect and compromise the security and safety of innocent community members.  That is why when some leaders were calling for the deployment of soldiers in these violence torn communities, we emphasized the point that the issues of drug trafficking and gang violence, require more than just policing.  They require the multi-agency interventions so that whilst policing operations continue, the socio-economic challenges are also given the necessary attention.”

As part of an intervention by South African Police Service, a team of experienced detectives was appointed to intervene and deal with drug related cases.  Their mandate included the investigation of some of the cases which were previously withdrawn at court.  Such cases are currently being analyzed and discussed with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for re-assessment.  These detectives are not only drawn from Eldorado Park police station but some come from different clusters within the Gauteng province.

“The President alluded to the fact that different spheres of government needed to work in a coordinated approach.  The progress we are witnessing in Eldorado Park is a good example of how best to address this challenge.  Crime prevention therefore requires that interdepartmental cooperation extend beyond the criminal justice system to include, where necessary, departments responsible for local government, education and social services,” stated the Minister.

The Minister further stated that although Eldorado Park is showing signs of stability and normalisation, police operations are continuing, assisted by the community.  “In order to maintain stability of Eldorado Park and many other communities in South Africa we will sustain this multi-agency approach.  We reiterate our clarion call that all of us; as government, civil society, faith-based organizations, business, non-governmental organisations; let us together all hold hands and deal a decisive blow to the scourge of drugs,” concluded Minister Mthethwa.

For enquiries, please contact:

Zweli Mnisi, Spokesperson to the Minister of Police 082 045 4024

Ministry of Police
Mobile: +27 (0)82 045 4024