Siyavuya Mzantsi
NEWLY appointed Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khombinkosi Elvis Jula has issued a stern warning to gangsters and other organised crime groups, saying police are aware of and will deal with them 24 hours a day.
Jula, a former deputy police commissioner for the police’s operational services in KwaZulu-Natal with more than 28 years of experience as a police officer, was speaking during the police’s Operation Lockdown in Belhar yesterday. Police had conducted raids and arrested several people for possession of drugs.
Jula replaces Arno Lamoer, who retired after his contract was not renewed last year. Lamoer was suspended from the police service and faces charges including corruption.
Jula said his officers would apply the Poca (Prevention of Organised Crime Act) to ensure gangs, drug dealing and crime syndicates in the province were dismantled.
“We are aware that gang violence in the Western Cape is a very serious problem. It’s a problem that has lasted for quite some time. We have task teams that are specifically focusing on the gangs.
“We also have Operation Combat that has yielded a number of successes when it comes to drugs and also drug lords.”
Jula said he was taking charge of a province that had less challenges than KwaZulu-Natal, where the major issues related to faction fights and taxi violence.
He said police wanted to address violence against women and children and vulnerable groups in the Western Cape. “It is one of the things that we are going to prioritise. And also this surge of violence that has always prevailed in this province.
“There is a lot which my predecessors have already achieved in this regard. However, it seems to me it is a longer-term problem.”
He said the police hoped for a situation in Cape Town where everyone is safe.
“We are not interested in just reducing (crime) percentages. We are focusing on the generators of crime. We believe if we address the generators of crime and if there is a concerted effort between us and other external roleplayers like the CPFs and government, we are going to deal a severe blow to crime. We believe that one murder is one too many,” Jula said.