National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has vowed to crack down on drug dens and Lolly lounges in Westbury and other drug-infested neighbourhoods in the province.

“Lolly lounges must be closed down because most of the children who should be in school are spending their time smoking whatever they are smoking there when they should be in school,” Masemola told members of the media on Wednesday.

This comes as Masemola visited the Sophiatown police station on Wednesday following the deaths of two teenagers, who died after being shot by their alleged gang rivals.

According to a police report, seven teenagers aged 14 to 19 were ambushed by four others who opened fire on them while they were sitting on the veranda of a house in the area around lunchtime on Tuesday.

Two reportedly died while five others are said to be recovering in the hospital.

Masemola stated that the perpetrators are known, and police are working tirelessly to apprehend them, despite no arrests being made yet.

As a result of similar incidents in the past, Masemola called on the community to work with the police to curb what he said was a prevailing trend where gang leaders and drug dealers deliberately recruit young people to be their runners.

He also noted a rise in the use of firearms by young people, leading to increased violence and terror within the community.

“We call upon the community to assist and come forward to assist in the scourge of gang-related crimes. Those who are committing these crimes are not many, so if we come together, we can deal with the crimes committed by these few individuals,” he added.

Masemola revealed that the police are nearing the arrest of four young suspects, who are known to both the community and law enforcement, in connection with the two murders.

“We cannot say we will arrest in two hours. However, the four young men are known, and we are on their trail. When the shooting happened, the police were two streets away. It is not true that police visibility is lacking in the area, as officers are present. It is not as if we have only come now due to the shooting incident of yesterday (Tuesday).

“We have deployed an anti-gang unit here and in other areas affected by drugs. Our men and women in blue are doing their work despite the revelations of the Madlanga Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee,” he said. 

siyabonga.sirthole@inl.co.za

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