Statement from Community Safety MEC on Arrests of Possible Syndicate Members

The ten persons arrested during an early morning raid, including a "church pastor", were arrested in Blackheath and Bellville. Abalone with a street value of R6-million was also seized. Other items that include drugs were also seized during the arrest.

Minister Ramatlakane welcomed the arrest saying : "It is part of our overall plan to protect our people, in particular women and children from drug lords.

"Our resolve is to work to make the Western Cape a safer Home for all our people. Our integrated law enforcement agencies will take them down one by one. We had called on them to reform from drug trafficking and gangsterism " he said

Minister Ramatlakane added that: "Our courts are now also putting their foot down and are sending those convicted under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), to jail in en masse. Through these convictions, our courts have virtually outlawed the Americans, Mongrels and Corner Boys.

"We are therefore ready to use this law to clean our street corners and to create a more safer environment for our children to play.

"This morning's arrest of the ten people is a clear demonstration that, our integrated security agencies have committed themselves to travel this route with us so that our people live freely.

"Those who do not want to take up our offers of rehabilitation, must therefore be aware that they have chosen to be in conflict with the law by continuing to be involved in drugs and abalone poaching. The law will therefore meet with them and will deal with them accordingly.