MEC Plato welcomes reintroduction of the Specialised Gang Units

Lusanda Bill
01 April 2015

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato has welcomed the reintroduction of the Specialised Gang Units by Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko.

In a statement MEC Plato said the lack of detectives, poor investigations on gang and drug related crimes, insufficient witness protection for those willing to speak up, as well as the lack of sustainable visible policing in areas have allowed violence, gangsterism and the crippling drug trade to be left undiminished.

Ministerial Spokesperson Ewald Botha said this major first step taken by the Minister is a victory for everyone in the province who has suffered for too long under the scourge of gangs and drugs.

Botha said MEC Plato has been calling for the reintroduction of the Specialised Gang Units since 2011 as there units have the necessary resource and expertise to investigate thoroughly and make concrete arrests which will lead to convictions in court.

“Around the world specialised units are used to tackle gang and drugs and the same was done in South Africa until a few years ago when the former police minister disbanded them” Plato added.