Notorious Belhar drug den at centre of narcotics gang war

RESIDENTS in Belhar’s Selfhelp section want to petition the City to do something about an allegedly notorious drug house, the cause of an apparent gang war.

The area’s local councillor, Delmaine Cottee, said that since the death of the last known gang leader to occupy the house, the situation had escalated and residents were subjected to daily gun violence and the illicit sale of drugs as gangs fought for control.

“The situation in this area is becoming more volatile by the day. People are dying, and there are always gunshots going off and someone hurt on the other end. It’s hard explaining to residents why nothing is being done to help them when the situation is this bad, but I have tried,” Cottee said.

“I have laid numerous complaints with the City about the house, and we expected them to handle the situation as that property belongs to them, but they haven’t done anything. Years have gone by, and countless people have died.

“Just this morning, a man was shot and killed in Winter Place. The property is still registered as the City’s and is also on their list of problem properties, yet they claim not to know about it and the havoc it is causing,” said Cottee.

However, the City’s Mayco member for human settlements, Malusi Booi, said it was a City-owned delayed transfer property, and while the deed of sale had been concluded, the transfer of ownership was still pending.

Booi also said that the City’s Home Ownership Office, which is responsible for administering the deed of sale in respect of the property, had no record of any complaints concerning illegal activities. He said: “The allegations will, however, be investigated and should it be confirmed by way of law enforcement agency reports, it will be dealt with per the conditions of sale. Complaints must be brought to the attention of the SAPS, as they are the lead crime-fighting and investigation authority.”

Resident Nadia Friday said: “The situation in our area is bad, I can’t emphasise just how much. I lost my brother to the ongoing gang violence in this area, and I struggle to understand why nothing is being done to end this rampant violence.”