AS KwaZulu-Natal continues to rank among South Africa’s leading hotspots for organised crime, the provincial government has identified Wentworth as one of several priority areas targeted in a specialised intervention to dismantle criminal syndicates, disrupt drug trafficking networks and reclaim communities plagued by violence.

The programme, announced by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, focuses on intelligence-led policing, and stronger co-ordination between law-enforcement agencies in the fight against organised crime.

Speaking to journalists on August 6 about the provincial government’s strategy to improve public safety, Ntuli said Wentworth had been placed under the programme following persistent criminal activity in the area.

“This area (Wentworth) is among the areas that have been put under the programme in order to tackle organised crime,” Ntuli said.

The intervention comes as the latest national crime statistics show KZN remains among the three provinces contributing the largest share of serious and organised crime, alongside Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.

Also read: Man shot dead in Wentworth

While KZN recorded an 8.7% decline in murders during the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, organised criminal activity remains deeply entrenched in several parts of the province.

Wentworth has been identified as a priority area following months of shootings, drug busts, narcotics-related arrests and multiple murder cases that have heightened fears among residents.

The community has repeatedly called for sustained police intervention to tackle gang violence and drug trafficking, which continue to fuel insecurity in the area.

Ntuli also identified gender-based violence (GBV) as a major priority requiring a co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement, NGOs, the private sector and communities.

“We are inviting the residents of KZN to take a common position to say we act against GBV and it must come to an end,” Ntuli said.

He said Wentworth was among the areas experiencing serious GBV challenges, adding that KZN remained one of the provinces hardest hit by the scourge.

“Hence the provincial government, together with NGOs, the private sector and the community at large, is preparing to fight against GBV,” he said.

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