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Vigilantism in CT condemned
20/06/2007 18:40 - (SA)
Cape Town - Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool says communities should not allow their anger and frustration to get the better of them in the fight against drugs.
He was reacting to a second night of violence against suspected drug dealers in Mitchell's Plain.
Rasool said it was because the provincial government understood the anger and frustration of communities that it had launched a comprehensive strategy against drugs and gangs.
"However, blind vigilantism will turn back all our progress," he said.
"Just as we are reaching focus in the fight against drugs, it appears that police energies are being directed to watch the actions of vigilantes.
"In fighting to uphold the law, we cannot become lawless."
He said the authorities had been putting sustained pressure on alleged drug dealers both at the "high flyer" level and on the ground, where an entire gang, the Fancy Boys, had been convicted.
Where communities had brought proof to police, drug lords had been arrested and drug houses closed.
Western Cape police said that 12 people were arrested after Tuesday night's vigilante action against suspected drug dealers in Mitchell's Plain.
Captain Randall Stoffels said about 1 000 people marched to three homes of suspected drug dealers. The top floor of a double-storey house was burnt down.
Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the crowd, but no injuries were reported.
Police also opened a case of public violence after a crowd of several hundred damaged houses and cars thought to belong to drug-deaslers in the same area on Monday night.
The vigilante action followed the murder of Mitchell's Plain neighbourhood watch member Abduraghman Sydow.
Sydow was killed by two unidentified men outside a reported "smokkelhuis" where drugs and liquor were sold.
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