Johannesburg - The ANC in Gauteng has warned drug manufacturers and police killers they’re living on a ticking time bomb.
The ANC jointly issued the warning with its alliance partners the SACP and Cosatu as well as the South African National Civic Organisation at Albert Luthuli House in Joburg on Thursday.
ANC provincial secretary Hope Papo announced a series of marches to various police stations.
He said drug manufacturers and distributors needed to be hunted down, as did police killers.
Police killings have spread countrywide and drawn sharp criticism from the office of President Jacob Zuma.
Papo said protesters would march to police stations from Friday, but the marches would be ongoing.
“We are going to deal with people who manufacture nyaope. Our marches will focus on manufacturers and distributors of these dangerous drugs. We are going to conduct a hit on these syndicates to reduce the number of potential users,” Papo warned.
He said the setting up of rehabilitation centres should be the last option.
While it was revealed that some of these manufacturers and distributors were living in upmarket areas of Gauteng and very difficult to find, Papo was not deterred. He said a number of ANC members were living in those areas and they would help the police.
“We will find them where they live behind high walls,” he said.
He added that to break the vicious cycle of crime, communities needed to support both victims and the law enforcement agencies.
“A crucial aspect of the campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of community police forums (CPFs) and encourage community members to join and be active in their nearest CPFs.
“In communities where there are no street communities, the alliance structures will support local CPFs,” he said.
While their primary targets were druglords and murderers, the ANC was also targeting those responsible for illegal electricity connections.
“Major crime like truck hijackings, business and mall robberies and syndicates involved in cable theft are disrupting economic development in the country’s economic heartland.
“Together with those involved in illegal electricity connection and those deliberately vandalising water pipes, these thugs are also destroying the critical infrastructure necessary for the delivery of services,” Papo said.
He said the ANC would deal with those responsible for illegal electricity connections even in areas where it has a strong support base.