Police Minister, General Bheki Cele told the community of Port Elizabeth Northern areas, that there is no need to deploy the army in the gangster areas as police are equal to the task. This follows a return visit by the Minister, to the Northern areas following repeated reports of incidents of gangsterism.
The Minister addressed a community engagement meeting where he interacted with sector stakeholders and local residents at Booysens Park. Minister Cele assured the communities that operational interventions will be intensified to tackle gang violence in the area.
The Minister also received an update from the Provincial Coordinator of the Anti gang unit that is deployed to tackle gang activity. Amongst other successes of the ongoing operation, 37 people have been arrested and convicted for gang related crimes since the start of the operation last year.
General Cele told community members that, “fighting gangsterism and related crimes such as drug and substance abuse is a national priority, hence the recent pronouncement of the establishment of the Anti-Gang Unit at national level,” he said. “Three provinces are high on the radar when it comes to gangster related crimes and police have strong presence in Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape to stabilize the situation and maintain law and order,” General Cele concluded.
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