Drug abuse a key reason why it remains difficult to root out gang activity - Gauteng police

Police in Gauteng have identified drug abuse as one of the key reasons why it remains difficult to root out gangs and gang-related violence in communities across the province.

Acting provincial Deputy Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said that illegal activities, such as the selling of drugs, particularly to teenagers, often perpetuate violence.

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This follows the shooting of seven boys between the ages of 13 and 19 on Tuesday in Westbury.

Four suspects opened fire and killed two of the teens, while five others were injured.

Police have identified and are on the hunt for three of the suspects, while the identity of the fourth suspect is still unknown.

Kekana said the house where some of the victims were found was allegedly used as a drug house.

He said that persistent illegal activity will continue to drive violence.

“As a community, we take our own space. We ensure that we protect our streets. No drugs must be sold. If sold, we deal with those people by reporting to police. In some cases, we even start going there as the community to say, 'You stop this. You don’t sell drugs here, you don’t manufacture drugs here, not in our space.' Just that on its own, it will be a deterrent."