Johannesburg - At least 116 people have been arrested in an operation to rid the community of Eldorado Park of drugs and substance related crimes.
This follows last week’s visit by President Jacob Zuma, who promised swift action in the fight against drug abuse in the area.
Of the 116 arrested, 43 were for drug related crimes, 20 for driving under the influence of liquor, 10 for assault, while the rest were for various crimes such as burglary, theft and unlicensed firearms.
A total of 20 drug dens, also known as “lolly lounges”, were also closed down.
Four addicted children, including an 8-year-old, found at lolly lounges, have been taken to a place of safety. Police also confiscated drugs including cat, mandrax, cocaine, rock and nyaope.
Special team on the ground
An integrated special intervention team, which includes the Police Tactical Response Team, the flying squad and provincial officers, has been dispatched to the area to increase visibility and hunt down drug dealers.
Their operations consist of vehicle check points, stop and searches, visiting the identified houses of alleged dealers and lolly lounges, and they are continuing on a 24-hour basis in the area.
The operation comes just days after Zuma visited the area in an answer to a plea from desperate parents, who informed the President about how drugs have run rampant in the area, while some local police looked on.
Briefing the media on government’s intervention, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane on Wednesday said the seriousness of the problem in Eldorado Park was one which required swift action and expertise.
It was precisely this swift action that has led to the development of the Presidential Eldorado Park Inter-sectoral Plan.
Mokonyane, who was flanked by members of the steering committee appointed by President Zuma, said government’s plan would see various departments such as Social Development, Community Safety in partnership with SAPS, Economic Development, Health, Education, Correctional Services and Justice working together to fight the issue of substance abuse, which is widespread in the area.
“The plan is based on two key strategies, which are the Drug Master Plan, that is aimed at reducing demand, harm and supply; and the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Substance Abuse Strategy, which focuses more on prevention, early intervention, treatment and after-care and reintegration.”
Outlining the strategy, Mokonyane said the plan was not only about “banging down doors to get to drug dealers”, but it would also take a deeper look into the social problems besetting the area.
Saving the children
The preliminary intervention, which aims to reduce the demand of drugs, has led to police also carrying out raids in various schools in the area. These include random drug and body searches, and home raids of suspected minor drug dealers.
The drug lords normally use minors to peddle drugs, especially at schools.
Mokonyane told the media they were working towards ensuring that schools were safe havens.
“This will be done by regular inspection of vendors outside and inside school premises, impromptu drug searches, deploying patrollers in schools and at every strategic point.”
They will also fix broken school fences, clear open spaces next to schools of shrubbery, and implement the Safer Schools strategy and the Adopt-a-Cop programme for all schools in the area. This is all in an effort to limit dealers’ access to schools.
Part of the schools plan will be to raise awareness by conducting door-to-door campaigns; increasing the number of learners that visit prisons and running Substance Abuse Prevention and Social Crime Prevention Workshops, and convening Youth Safety imbizos.
A Youth against Drugs forum will also be formed through the Department of Social Development to educate the learners about the effects of drugs.
The number of social workers available to both learners in schools and youngster in the broader community will also be increased.
Part of government’s plan, according to Mokonyane, will be looking at how they can save those children who are already addicted.
Increasing rehab options
The premier announced that they have teamed up with Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, which will set up a short-term (seven days) intensive detoxification programme.
Plans are also in place to increase funding of existing out-patient treatment centres, not only in the area but the province as well.
“In support of the initiative, we shall enhance mobilisation through community dialogues, youth safety imbizos, Men as Safety Promoters programmes and others. We shall also establish committees of concerned parents through Local Anti-Drug Committees,” said Mokonyane.
Plans are also in place to register unregistered treatment centres to ensure that they are operating within the prescribed norms and minimum standards.
In order to ensure swift justice in the area, the steering committee is also looking at opening special dedicated drug courts.
According to Police Minister Nathi Methethwa, these special courts will “ensure the rapid processing of drug related cases”.
Mthethwa, who applauded the community of Eldorado Park for standing up and partnering with government to find solutions to their challenges, said the high police visibility and random searches and raids will be in place until criminals are brought to book.
Residents who spoke to SAnews said they were seeing the difference and were starting to feel safer.
“We are impressed by the police visibility. Drugs and criminals had taken over our streets and now we are taking them back. Enough is enough,” resident Anton Lynch said.
Michelle Booysens, who said drugs had been a big component of crime in the area, said she was “seeing the light”.
“Once again, I have hope for this community. Yes, it’s still early days but I have hope that we are moving in the right direction. Things are changing, and united we will soldier on," said Booysens.
Compared to last week, as a visitor in the area, one senses change and signs of new life in the area. Police visibility is high, with officers at almost every major intersection.
Mokonyane said there was still more to be done to ensure that the community normalises.
"It’s not going to be easy but it is going to be in the best interests of our community," Mokonyane said.
She added that they would bring on board a number of other ministers such as Economic Development and Trade and Industry, who will be tasked with addressing the critical lack of employment opportunities and economic activities in the area.
“Economic development will receive particular attention so that we are able to ensure that we develop alternative sustainable livelihoods for families in the area. This includes approaching businesses who could potentially invest in the area,” said the premier.
The Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation will also be roped in to initiate a number of projects geared towards youth development and social cohesion.
“We will solicit support of influential individuals from disciplines such as arts, sports, music and culture to have dialogues on issues of identity, culture, diversity and a sense of belonging,” said Mokonyane.
The work of the committee will be monitored by the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency. - SAnews.gov.za
