Pact on Cape gang wars eludes Zille, Mthethwa

CAPE TOWN — Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa are still at loggerheads on how to tackle the gang violence and drugs problem in the province, with the premier insisting that the army be temporarily deployed to the affected areas.

Mr Mthethwa, Ms Zille and Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille met yesterday to discuss the crisis that has left several dead and communities, especially in Manenberg, living in fear. There was an agreement that the province, the city and the police should work more closely together, but there was no consensus on the role the security forces should play in the crisis.

The recent spike in gang violence in hot spots around the Cape Flats has been largely attributed to the drugs trade as gangsters fight each other for control of the lucrative business. The crisis reached such a pitch last week that the provincial government took the “extraordinary” decision to close schools in Manenberg temporarily.

The closure of the schools was because of concerns about the safety of pupils in the area. The schools reopened on Monday, with the city and police beefing up security in and around the area.

Ms Zille was scheduled to attend a media briefing with Mr Mthethwa and Ms de Lille, but could not because she had another meeting to attend. She briefed the media earlier outside the press conference venue and described the meeting with Mr Mthethwa only as “fine”.

But Ms Zille said the situation in Manenberg had stabilised only “because everyone who could have been killed, has been killed … and that is the tragedy”. The government should bring back the specialised drugs and gang units, she said.

Mr Mthethwa said there was no need to bring the army because the problem was a socioeconomic one.