KZN Premier leads crime and grime clean-up
Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said they are doing all that is possible to make the province and the city of eThekwini a desirable and safe destination.
Ntuli made these statements following an operation on Monday morning, aimed at dismantling illegal drug activities, and criminal activities and apprehending undocumented foreign nationals.
He said that the operation did not solely target foreign nationals; however, they could not be overlooked, as this was another element that contributed to KwaZulu-Natal not being what it used to be.
“We are not targeting foreign nationals, we are targeting crime as KwaZulu-Natal. We are saying, we are hard on crime. As you have heard, in the actual assassinations that have recently taken place, people are being arrested and people who are trying to shoot at the police – the police were able to react successfully.
“I think in KwaZulu-Natal, despite the fact that we still have high levels of crime, the work that is done by police and other departments that are cooperating with the police is quite really commendable,” he said.
The operation included the SAPS, Correctional Services, Metro Police and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison.
Ntuli said the plan was that those who cooperated, would be taken to shelters but for those who decided to run away, nothing could be done. He added that it meant that they would continue creating problems, but “our” operations will continue.
“We know that we are approaching the festive season and we want to assure the people of South Africa and even outside South Africa that we are cleaning Durban and they must come for the December holidays and spend time here in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, because we are all working together to ensure that we render this province to them safe, especially in eThekwini which we know attracts millions of people especially, in December.
“We are encouraging people to come to our province. We will be here with the police and we will be all over ensuring that they are safe when they visit eThekwini,” said Ntuli.
He said those who were in the country illegally were deported, except for those who were discovered to have committed crimes – they were arrested in order to answer for their crimes.
Ntuli said rehabilitation was part of the programme to ensure that those who were also suffering with drug addiction were assisted. He added that although the addicts sometimes escaped, they would be engaging in dialogue to establish suitable measures to ensure that the users did not escape a programme of this magnitude.
He said that the operation would be ongoing.
According to the provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, 15 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested, and over 100 homeless people were taken in during the integrated pre-Safe Festive Season operation.
“With the festive season just around the corner, the management of police in the eThekwini District, together with the Office of the Premier, Correctional Services, Metro Police and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison raided the Albert Park area which had become a hotspot for crimes such as theft out of motor vehicle, smash and grab incidents and robberies.
“During the operation police demolished informal structures which were built in the public space adjacent to the traffic lights under the M4 Highway bridge.
“Some homeless people were found to be suffering from various medical conditions, including open wounds and syringes with blood were found in those demolished structures. Those found to be sick were treated at the scene by the EMS personnel,” he said.
Netshiunda said that thus far, two people had been positively linked to crimes through their fingerprints, with one of them having been on the wanted list since 2001 and investigations were underway to determine the cases he was linked to.
The arrested suspects will be presented before the court after the verification process.
Dr Raymond Perrier, the Director of the Denis Hurley Centre said that while the operation created the impression that action was being taken against drug dealing and drug abuse, it did not provide a permanent solution; instead, it merely displaced individuals.
He said that there were people affected by the operations who were merely trying to survive in the city, while some were on TB, antiretrovirals and other medication.
“When these operations happen, the police go in and destroy their belongings and suddenly, someone who was trying to stay healthy is not healthy and someone who was not infecting other people with TB is now infecting other people with TB because they are not taking their medication,” he said.
Perrier said that when it came to such operations, there was a fundamental problem of a lack of attempt to engage with the people who were affected, to devise a solution which was suitable for all.
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News