Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia, together with Deputy Ministers of Police Dr Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale, met with the South African Police Service (SAPS) management to address the ongoing battle with gang violence in Westbury.

The stakeholder engagement, at JMPD headquarters in Sophiatown on November 10, featured community activists and leaders, meeting to discuss solutions to put a stop to this cycle of violence before it is too late.

Read more: Councillor Genevieve Sherman urges action in Westbury gang crisis

Ward 69 councillor Genevieve Smith highlighted that the crisis of gangsterism was not just a policing issue, but a deep social and economic wound that had been left unattended for decades. “For more than 30 years after apartheid, our communities have remained on the margins of economic opportunity. Despite the promises of transformation, many of our people continue to feel excluded from the benefits of democracy.”

She highlighted that this is a result of a generation who feel invisible, struggling to find jobs, excluded from higher education opportunities, and surrounded by an environment where crime becomes a survival mechanism rather than a choice.

Cachalia acknowledged that there is an existing trust gap between communities and the police. “We have to breach that trust gap, because the community has a major role to play. Where there’s high levels of violence, and organised crime, people are reluctant to come forward. They’re not prepared to testify in court, which makes it difficult to achieve convictions, but we have to fight this battle.

“I was told today that young boys, between 13 and 19, are being recruited. They’re supposed to be looking forward to a bright future. These communities are in a position where they feel marginalised. They feel that their issues around poverty, lack of opportunity, and so forth, are not being properly addressed.”

Cachalia also indicated that government is considering revisiting the national drug master plan, which was adopted years ago, to improve its implementation due to drugs invading the community and borders. “We have to fight this problem, and we are in this for the long haul.”

Also read: Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia engages Westbury community on rising gang-related crimes

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero added that some of the community members lost their children. “One lady’s son, who was a soccer coach, was killed before he could even turn 30. It demonstrates the level at which this gangsterism is eating at our community. We need a response now.”

Morero said the minister and police acknowledged that the issue was not just about gangs, but about organised crime, those putting drugs and guns into communities. “There’s a commitment from the minister, and the police, that they are going to work harder to try and confront this, but we need communities to come on board. Members of the community know who sells drugs, which houses are lolly lounges. It’s important that we constantly get that information. They must help us.”

The city has also re-established what is called a drug action committee, which had not been there for some time. It’s now in operation in the mayor’s office, and we are finding other stakeholders to participate, so that, through that structure, we can look at what other programmes we should bring into those communities to fight the scourge of drug and substance abuse.”

Morero responded that the city had made commitments to implement by-laws, to assist in reducing the impact of gangsterism and drugs. These include:
• Dealing with unlicensed shops that contribute to the problem,
• Addressing lolly lounges, which operate illegally, and
• Increasing constant stop-and-search operations to reduce the presence of guns and drugs.

Morero stated that crime cannot be fought by the police alone, and that it requires everyone to work together. He urged communities to play an active role in confronting this crisis, and to join forces in the fight against gangsterism and drugs.

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