It’s been over a month since the community of Elsburg had a meeting with Faith Mazibuko, MEC of the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
According to Elsburg community leader Prince Rulashe the meeting yielded good results as the MEC intervened and provided solutions to a number of challenges the Elsburg community was facing.
But the interventions were disturbed by the lockdown.
“The lockdown has affected us badly as a community as the MEC had deployed the Saturation Unit in Elsburg to combat crime and drugs.
“But since the lockdown began the special unit has had to be redeployed to work all over Gauteng,” said Rulashe.
He said things did change after the meeting, but drugs are still a problem.
“Crime has decreased rapidly, but we still have an issue with drugs,” he said.
“The situation was much better before the lockdown as there were regular random searches and visible policing.”
He said the lockdown, like for many disadvantaged areas, has really impacted the community of Elsburg.
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“The community is really feeling the impact of lockdown.
“Many people are left distressed as some don’t have an income and local businesses in the area are being hit hard, especially informal traders, who can’t operate during lockdown because they don’t offer essential services,” said Rulashe.
He said the community is really trying to help each other during this difficult time.
“There is a company that has been assisting with food parcels to give to those in dire need,” said Rulashe.
He said if the lockdown is extended further the community has a plan in place to assist those in need.
“We have plan in place as we have approached many individual companies within Elsburg to assist in relief in terms of food parcels to assist families in distress and will also engage with the Ekurhuleni Central Food Bank which was set up by the mayor,” said Rulashe.
He urged the community to be safe during the lockdown.
“We urge all residents of Elsburg to adhere to the regulations put in place to stay at home during the lockdown.
“Also, those who see the lockdown as an opportunity to become involved in illegal activities such as selling liquor and drugs must be warned that we are working closely with law enforcement agencies and we will not tolerate lawbreakers it in our community,” said Ralashe.
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