Gauteng

Seventy five (75) suspected drug dealers were arrested in Khutsong since Monday last week, following police operations.  This announcement was made by the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa today during a community participation engagement held at Khutsong.

The engagement comes in the wake of the recent mob justice incidents in which six people were attacked and killed for allegedly being involved in gangsterism.  The residents who came in large numbers, packed a tent erected in Extension 1 and were afforded opportunities to share their experiences around policing with the Minister and Gauteng police management around policing issues facing the community. 

“On Monday I came here to Khutsong and got an update from some of the leaders within the community about the suspected drug dealers who are destroying the young peoples’ lives by selling them drugs.  I immediately tasked the police to search and arrest these drug dealers so that by the time we meet and engage with the broader community, progress should be provided to me.  I am happy to report before you that since Monday till today, 75 suspects have been arrested and are being taken through the criminal justice system,” he stated.
Present at the meeting were also the Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile, Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Ms Faith Mazibuko, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Acting Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba as well as leaders from Community Policing Forums and local Civic Organisations.

The community raised wide-ranging issues, from perceived lack of trust in the local police, accusing them of protecting the gangsters, slow response times and not working closely with various community structures.  Residents further accused some of the police of reselling confiscated drugs.   Others expressed their dissatisfaction with the criminal justice system saying it is failing them because some of the suspects are released within hours or days after arrests.

As part of the interventions, they then requested the Minister to increase the number of police in Khutsong because in their view, the township has experienced both developmental and spatial growth.  They said against this growth, there have not been many recreational and sporting facilities, which led to many young people roaming the township without purpose hence ended up getting involved in criminal acts.  They further reported that there is a gang known as Casanova, which has been terrorising the community and when they reported, the perception was that nothing was done by the police.   

In his response, the Minister tasked the community to make specific points and not generalize when analyzing the effectiveness of the police.  He said this community-participation philosophy will enable police management to follow each case specifically, to ensure that stern actions are taken against any particular officer suspected of criminal collusion.

“We need you as the community to work with the police, however as and when you suspect any criminality involving police, please raise these specifically and not through generalizing.  We have been consistent in our resolve to ensure that any police officer who is involved in criminality faces the full might of the law.  In fact, we want to inform you today that from March to November this year, in this very cluster of Khutsong eleven (11) police officers have been dismissed from the SAPS for various acts of criminality,” stated the Minister.

“Unfortunately some of you have made calls that you do not need police officers in the community.  We cannot allow that to happen because there will be no situation anywhere in South Africa, where a community will not have police officers.  Stop and seizure, raids at various hotspot areas will happen, especially during this festive season.  We want to clean our communities against criminals.  If you have an allergy for police officers, sorry but police will still be present here in Khutsong.  And we are not going to be apologetic about this stance,” he added.

“We have heard and noted each issue that you raised at this meeting.   From our side, we will follow each complaint and ensure it is resolved.  We need you as the community to work with government to tackle the scourge of drugs.”

The Minister concluded by stating that police management, at national and provincial level will follow each complaint that was raised and that the Ministry will follow up, unannounced to check progress.  Some of the issues raised, which fall outside the policing ambit, will be shared with sister departments such as Arts and Culture, Sport and Recreation, Social Development and others.

For enquiries, please contact:

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

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