Gauteng dubbed South Africa’s main hub for illicit drugs

Mapaballo Borotho

Gauteng has been declared the main hub for illicit drugs in South Africa.
Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola made the remarks during a drug destruction operation worth R400 million.
Meanwhile, 200 additional officers have been deployed to the Western Cape to curb escalating gang violence in hotspots like Nyanga and Mitchells Plain.

Gauteng has been identified as the country’s most consistent hub for illicit drugs distribution. This was confirmed by the National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola.

Masemola made the remarks on Thursday while leading a drug destruction operation, where drugs valued at more than R400 million were incinerated.

This follows a string of high-profile busts in recent months. The most notable was in the Western Cape, where a suspect was arrested in possession of drugs worth R800 million.

Closer to home, in July, police confiscated R270 000 worth of drugs in Hillbrow.

Masemola said that although significant seizures are being made nationwide, Gauteng remains the primary hub for the sale and distribution of drugs.

He added that most narcotics entering South Africa come from South America and parts of Asia.

Turning to gang violence in the Western Cape, Masemola expressed concern about the ongoing bloodshed, describing it as a major issue that requires urgent intervention.

In response, 200 additional police officers have been deployed to hotspot areas, including Nyanga and Mitchells Plain.

Authorities have also rolled out a robust inter-departmental Anti-Gangsterism Implementation Plan, aimed particularly at preventing the recruitment of minors into gangs.