“WE NEED help” was the appeal made by community activists from Durban suburb Phoenix in the wake of the assassination of four men in broad daylight on Thursday, which police suspect was a drug-related turf war attack.
They are probing the possibility that a Phoenix drug dealer might have “tramped on the toes” of operators in the neighbouring KwaMashu/Inanda area and brought about this week’s shooting on Gillham Avenue, Westham.
Three of the four men died on the scene while a fifth victim sustained serious injuries.
The yet to be confirmed number of attackers travelled in a Toyota Tazz, believed to have been stolen the previous day. They opened fire on their victims with handguns.
The identities of the deceased are to be confirmed.
“For this type of hit to have happened in a busy area near the local Checkout Supermarket, something big must have gone down between drug dealers,” said a community activist who asked not be named.
The source said in a 1km radius, including the Westham area, there were as many as 40 drug dens with “rock” (a derivative of cocaine) and “sugars” (a cocktail of substances) being the narcotics of choice.
“Sugars are selling for R10 a hit and are also available in capsule form. Police are familiar with the drug situation in Phoenix but they look the other way,” the source said.
“Police are complicit with the drug dealers, there is no doubt about that,” said former Phoenix Community Police Forum head and long-time activist Umesh Singh.
“It’s obvious that someone stamped on someone’s toes. Phoenix has become a battleground. We’ve had so many shootings here recently, it’s unreal,” said Singh.
He said the proliferation of “sugars” had also brought more users into the area and they were committing various forms of petty crimes to finance their habit.
While Singh was for community involvement with neighbourhood watches and sharing information via chat groups, he was against the idea of patrollers driving around in vehicles with flashing lights.
“Communities need to report crime and let police do their work.”
About some police officers cosying up to drug dealers, Singh suggested that the new police minister, Senzo Mchunu, should ring in changes.
“Rotation of policemen, maybe annually, is needed. The SAPS’s members can work anywhere in South Africa. That directive needs to come from the national office,” Singh said.
Another community activist, Mervin Govender, said police should take the blame for the drug situation in Phoenix.
“We need policemen from out of this province who are not compromised to tackle the drug issue.
“Families are going through hell because there are drug dens around every corner. The situation is out of control.”
Govender said children idolised drug lords and also aspired to drive flashy cars, and wear gold jewellery and designer clothing.
“We have to question the moral and ethical standing of our society,” Govender said. “Children are of the view that the only way to be successful in life is to become a drug lord, it guarantees you a bling lifestyle.
“That is how the culture of impunity is being perpetuated because cops won’t act.”
Govender added: “We are in desperate need of help in Phoenix. Social services need to come on board to help. Presently, the community has nobody to turn to.
“There is not a single NPO (non-profit organisation) working on the drug problem and rehabilitation.”
Local ward 52 councillor Samier Singh said Thursday’s shooting was shocking but he did not want to be drawn into speculation that it was drug related. He preferred to wait for police investigations and the legal processes to be concluded before commenting.
On Westham having the reputation of being a Phoenix drug hotspot, Singh said: “It’s hearsay because there are speculative drug dens not only in ward 52 but all over Phoenix.
“I don't have the mandate to state clearly that such places are drug dens.
“I don't get involved in those matters. I leave it to the SAPS and the CPF who have the mandate to tackle such issues.”
Mchunu spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi said: “The ministry is taking a stern stance on crime and criminal activities.
“We realise that there are numerous drug syndicates and we have closed in on a number of them. This is evident from the recent drug busts and discovery of clandestine laboratories.
“So understand us to be on the job. We will deal with the drug scourge in KZN and throughout the country.”
The SAPS KZN spokesperson, Robert Netshuinda, said no arrest had been made in connection with the shooting.
Attempts to reach the Phoenix CPF were unsuccessful.