ActionSA ‘fix SA’ member acts on gangsters’ threats
THE RECENTLY announced ActionSA “fix South Africa” member Dereleen James has laid a criminal case against a notorious gang at Eldorado Park police station on Tuesday.
This happened after James received threats from the gang, after one of its members was arrested by the police.
James said the group had published a post on Facebook which sought to single out her and her family for the recent arrest of its members when police embarked on law enforcement operations this past weekend.
The ActionSA member has been one of the key figures in fighting drugs and substance abuse in Eldorado Park.
For her role in fighting substance abuse, Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa appointed her as a board member of the South African Institute for Drugfree Sports.
“The impunity with which these gangs have operated across our country is why Herman Mashaba saw fit to dedicate one of only 18 members of a shadow cabinet to the role of substance abuse.
“These gangs continue to tear apart families and communities under the nose of law enforcement.
“When strong and capable community leaders emerge, the safety of such leaders and their families is threatened.
“On the long list of failures by the ANC government, nationally and in Gauteng, the breakdown of the rule of law must be one of the greatest failures,” James said.
Under an ActionSA-led government, war would be declared on drugs and gangs, she said, adding that law enforcement agencies would receive full backing from the party leadership to pursue those who make money from the miseries of community members.
The party’s national chairperson, Michael Beaumont, said it was disheartening to witness these gangs operate and deal in drugs while the police do nothing about it.
“It is evident that Dereleen James is the right person to lead the fight against drugs and gangsterism in South Africa. ActionSA stands alongside James and her family and will not back down,” Beaumont said.
A source inside the Eldorado Park police station confirmed to The Star that James had indeed opened a case.
The threats to James’ life comes a day after newly appointed Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni revealed that murder and attempted murder in the province had increased by 3.8 and 9.4% respectively in the third quarter, while kidnapping spiked by almost 20%.
Mthombeni said these crime stats could have been worse. However, he remained optimistic that things would change for the better. Mthombeni also highlighted that Gauteng was one of only four of provinces that managed to decrease crime in at least eight categories, including rape and sexual assault, during the third quarter.