Lerato Mailoane
Police Minister Bheki Cele has announced interventions to address the escalating gang and drug-related shootings in Westbury, Newclare Sophiatown, and Claremont townships.
These include the introduction of an anonymous hotline and deploying nearly 70 officers from the Johannesburg metro police department, national intervention unit, and tactical response team to patrol the neighbourhood over the next three months. 
This deployment will increase the police footprint on the ground and track and trace those responsible for the rampant violence that continues to threaten the overall safety of residents.
Minister Cele outlined these plans during a Ministerial Imbizo on Tuesday, which Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi joined.
The Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela also attended the event. 
The delegation engaged the community on the multi-pronged crime prevention intervention that will be ushered in, with the provincial government's support, in line with the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVP).
Cele said the interventions will remain in place until future engagements with the community. The minister believes deploying the specialised units will go a long way to help the local SAPS and restore the community's confidence in the police."We listen, and we hear you. It hurts when we hear women and young people can't move around their houses freely.  "Our job is to prevent crime and work with everyone to improve lives. I was touched when a young lady said- "we are scared". 
While additional resources and deployments are in place, Cele called on all stakeholders to join hands with the police. 
"We have brought special forces in this community to help us identify the criminals and those who carry illegal firearms. We are sending the secretariat that supports the police to work on complaints about corrupt police officials. We'll also be working on the corrupt members of the community. 
"We don't want to arrest the drug pushers. We want to get the guys who have millions of drugs. We need to deal with the drug lords," he added. 
In conclusion, Cele said he is concerned about the high number of unresolved cases. As such, SAPS will increase crime intelligence and investigating units to put criminals where they belong.
"I instructed that a team of detectives must work on outstanding cases. Please sweep and sanitise this place. Yes, it will be difficult, and we know some are here, so that they will report back to criminals. No matter how angry you are or how much you've lost hope, please work with law enforcement." 
At the same time, Premier Panyaza Lesufi said he would soon follow up with his executive on the community's numerous concerns on health, education, social development, sport and human settlement.
"It would be wrong not to acknowledge how we try to fight crime have limitations and gaps. The time of talking is over. I don't want to stand here and promise that criminals get to know our strategy against crime. I don't want to talk anymore. Let my actions speak for themselves," Lesufi added.