Benoni CPF executive chairperson Reza Patel told the City Times earlier this week that he, the Benoni SAPS top brass, EMPD and officials from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) met a couple of weeks ago to discuss a plan of action for drug houses in Western Extension and New Modder.
Western Extension has, for many years, been riddled with so-called drug houses.
Patel said 24 drug houses were closed down in the past six years.
He said the property owners of the houses were served with papers from the Benoni Police Station indicating illegal activity taking place at these properties.
The owners complied and evicted their tenants.
However, Patel said there are nine drug houses currently plaguing the area.
He said the documents from the police have not yielded action from the property owners to evict their tenants.
Papers containing evidence of illegal activities at the remaining houses are with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Pretoria.
The unit would legally be allowed to seize the properties if evidence suggested the presence of criminal activity.
Patel said the current plan is to hit these houses to see whether they comply with fire, health, electricity and building regulations.
The CPF chairperson acknowledged the effect of drug houses in the area, but said there are other suburbs with bigger problems.
” [Drugs] are always the root of other crimes, but is not affecting these people,” said Patel.
“We (CPF) are not saying, because of that, nothing should be done, we are saying let’s take a step back and ask where is the murder capital of Benoni.”
He said it is New Modder.
“What is more of a priority to us, people getting killed or these guys selling these drugs?” said Patel.
“We need to concentrate the police in terms of priority.”
Western Extension resident Cecilia Morris told the City Times the drug houses are a concern.
“Residents in the area are getting very frustrated with the lack of effort from the SAPS,” said Morris.
“The owners of these drug houses should be prosecuted as they benefit from the proceeds of crime.”
She said crime in Western Extension is problematic.
She accused the SAPS of being friendly with people at the drug houses and drive past prostitutes without doing anything about their activities.
The Benoni SAPS did not respond to questions sent several days ago.
