“DRUG lords should be called drug scum,” was the message of community safety and liaison MEC, Willies Mchunu, as he committed himself to the fight against gangsterism and drug use in Merewent on Wednesday, 3 December.
The MEC spoke at a meeting in Wentworth, hosted by the department of community safety and liaison, South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management (ABM) department and Safer Cities.
Speakers included the Merewent CPF chairman, Pastor Donny Anderson, Colonel Deon Singh from Wentworth SAPS, Safer Cities’ Hoosen Moolla and SDB ABM acting manager, Eurakha Singh.
Local communities were urged to speak up about gangsterism and drug use and propose solutions to the MEC for possible implementation. Mchunu spoke of the government’s commitment to improve the lives of South African people. Much of the focus was on youngsters and on ways to turn them away from gangs. “Presented to the MEC were the 16 young people who were trained as Smart ambassadors by the Jullo Treatment Centre in Merebank. They have been empowered with knowledge and skills that will allow them to assist their peers in trouble,” said Eurakha Singh.
“As we fought the battle against apartheid and won by standing united as a nation, we can win the battle against the scourge of drugs and crime,” said MEC Mchunu, after which he committed himself to the fight in Merewent.
“I was not impressed with his suggestion to form more committees or to give credit to groups who have never worked on drugs. Communities Building Credible Organisations (CBCO) launched the drug abuse campaign in 2010 and this effort by the various churches has led to the arrest and rehabilitation of drug addicts and illegal firearms being found,” said South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa.
D’Sa refers to the local organisation that has held a ‘healing walk’ through Wentworth and prayed at the drug houses. CBCO members also held a march to the Wentworth police station to demand that bail for repeated drug dealers be increased and in some cases refused.
