28 Nov 2006: ISS Today: All-out Drug War in Western Cape
28 November 2006: All-out Drug War in Western Cape
Cape Argus, 19 May 2005
It is the war over Crystal Methamphetamine, otherwise known as Tik and it is raging in the heart of the Cape Peninsula, in the Western Cape province, South Africa. The war has seen the resurgence of violent attacks launched by various gangster formations residing here and it has claimed innocent lives, including small children. Pipe bomb attacks, assassinations, drive-by shootings and execution-style killings have been the mode of operation of protagonists in the war to claim the supply lines for illicit drugs. In May, the police launched an operation to curb the drug trade and stop the violence associated with it. Within one week the police had searched over 3000 premises and opened 560 cases.
Commentary
In addition to the gangs from the Cape Flats area, Nigerian drug dealers and the Chinese Triads are also said to be involved in the local drugs war. These latter groups apparently have been trying to increase their market share in the Cape’s illicit drug business. The Nigerian drug market is facing a threat from the booming Crystal Methamphetamine trade. Sales of this drug are beginning to surpass those of Crack Cocaine, which has thus far been the specialty of Nigerian drug barons. It is said that the Nigerians are playing off some of the warring groups against each other.
The Chinese Triads are also said to be fighting for the exclusive right to distribute Crystal Methamphetamine. They appear to have effectively taken over the Mandrax distribution business from Indian and Pakistani drug merchants. The Triads have an advantage in supplying Crystal Methamphetamine, because 90 percent of Crystal Methamphetamine laboratories are situated in the Gauteng province, where most of the Triad members reside (1). Also, the key ingredients (such as Ephedrine) required to make Crystal Methamphetamine are not readily found in the Western Cape.
In spite of suspected involvement of the Nigerian drug barons and the Chinese Triads, none of the members of these groups has been physically harmed in the raging violence, and much of the fighting has been relegated to the Cape Flats area.
Some of the groups involved in the conflict include the “Americans” gang, the “Wonder Kids”, the “Ghetto Kids”, the “Hard Livings” and the prison numbers gangs, which include the “26s”, “27s” and “28s”. The lure of a potentially huge festive season market is marked as one of the causes of the recent fight over turf (2). According to an experienced police detective: “The gangs are now placing an added emphasis on making money, establishing a power base and winning territory from rival gangs” (3). The tourist market, both local and international, which increases in size over the festive season, is believed to be another area of contention for the various drug-trading groups.
Meanwhile, gang experts believe there is more to the conflict than meets the eye. For instance, in some of the getaways and drive-by shootings, white Volkswagen Golfs have been used, which used to be the motor vehicles of choice for members of the vigilante organisation, the People against Drugs and Gangsterism (PAGAD). This raises the question as to whether PAGAD members have come up with a strategy for removing key players in the drug trade ahead of imminent increased supplies of illegal drugs.
The latest gang war comes on the back of a three-year long ceasefire. The reasons for the raging war are multifaceted. These range from fights over turf and exclusive rights to distribute drugs to revenge killings, to possible preventative measures to prevent or curtail the sale of illegal drugs. Nevertheless, one thing is clear, that the streets of Cape Town are no longer as safe as they used to be. While in major parts of the Western Cape there is no danger of being caught in the crossfire, residents of the Cape Flats have much to be concerned about. Many parents fear that their children may be killed or injured by stray rounds, as has happened in the past.
A striking development relating to the drug war in the Cape is that the shootings and killings, which used to be sporadic, seem to have become much more targeted. This is a worrying sign of better organisation. The sophistication of gangs can be attributed to the strengthening of “The Firm”, an umbrella gang body controlled by leaders of the various gangs (4). Apparently this body has somewhat been able to instil some form of discipline among members of gangs. Also, the gangs seem to an extent to have adopted a more entrepreneurial spirit, because the majority would rather make money than engage in costly fights. As one member of a gang that sells Crystal Methamphetamine in the Mannenburg location in the Cape Flats remarked: “[we] each have our own area where we sell tik. As long as you keep to your turf, life is cool, and we all make a bit of money.” (5).
This issue points to another war, one in which which the residents of Cape Town are embroiled. This is the war to keep children safe, no only from the crossfire, but also from being destroyed by tik.
The rise of Crystal Methamphetamine as an abused drug of choice has been phenomenal in the last four years. Figures show that at the end of 2003 only 2.3 percent of patients at drug rehabilitation clinics claimed Crystal Methamphetamine to be their main substance of abuse (6). But, by the first half of 2006 some 37 percent of patients at drug rehabilitation centres across the Western Cape province did so (7). In 2001, police handled only 12 cases involving Crystal Methamphetamine. By the end of 2005, however, the police had recorded approximately 2,628 cases.
Crystal Methamphetamine and Crack Cocaine produce almost the same narcotic effect when used, but the “high” generated by Crystal Methamphetamine lasts three to four hours longer than that generated by Crack. This is believed to be the reason why Crystal Methamphetamine has become so popular within a very short space of time. Apart from Crystal Methamphetamine, the other popular drug of choice in the Cape is Heroin. Together with Crystal Methamphetamine, it has taken over much of the market that used to belong to Crack Cocaine and Mandrax.
Crystal Methamphetamine is a danger both to health and social integrity. In relation to health, the drug destroys the properties in the brain responsible for making a person feel happy, stable and balanced. It also causes paranoia and aggression. Long-term users risk being afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, which affects speech and the coordination of the muscles. With regard to social integrity, the users of tik have quite clearly proven to be prone to violence after using this drug. They are also likely to engage in other anti-social behaviour, such as lying, stealing, robbing, raping and killing. Some members of the police service in Mannenburg lamented that communities are falling part due to Crystal Methamphetamine (8).
It is without doubt that illegal drugs are a threat to human security. One aspect that has severely affected prospects of winning the drug war is police corruption. Drug syndicates have members of the police service on their payroll. This has contributed to a situation where the public has lost confidence in the criminal justice system. To make matters worse, it has been noted that drug cases tend to drag on for months or years in court, to the point where witnesses either lose interest, are threatened not to testify or are even killed in some instances.
At every opportunity the police have emphasised that the major challenge to stopping the illicit drug trade and dealing with drug syndicates is the low level of cooperation received from the public. However, the criminal justice system has not done well to assure citizens that they will be protected if they work with the police against crime.
There are glimmers of hope in the war against drugs, however. The police seem to be getting the situation under control, and after several high profile arrests there has been a noticeable decline in the frequency of shootings. The Minister of Safety and Security in the Western Cape has pointed out that the police have had some assistance in fighting against drugs and in dealing with gang wars. Tools such as the regular excerpts in the press with details about the gangster formations have assisted in developing better strategies to deal with these groups. Communication with members of the public has assisted as well. However, to effectively address the illicit drug problem, initiatives will have to be targeted at its roots, that is, the demand for drugs. A multidimensional approach will be instrumental in this regard. It is the collective responsibility of families, communities, civil society, business and government to ensure that large sectors of the population do not fall victim to drugs and crime. This means that all the institutions charged with providing services to communities and those responsible for protecting the rights of citizens should continually be strengthened to do their work. This also means the criminal justice system needs to be improved in order to enhance public confidence in its ability to fight crime. Vigorous efforts and a coordinated approach to fighting against drugs will ensure drug wars become an issue of the past.
Mpho Mashaba, Organised Crime and Money Laundering Programme, ISS Cape Town
1. Alex Eliseev, “90% of Crystal Methamphetamine labs in Gauteng, police say,” Pretoria News, August 24, 2006. p. 1, http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20060824031751967C741492
2. Natasha Prince, “Gang turf war rips through Cape Flats streets,” Cape Argus, November 03, 2006. p. 3 http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20061103130442663C705053
3. Norman Joseph, “Gangs battle for tourist drug market,” Cape Argus, November 02, 2006. p. 1 http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20061102130122811C281456
4. Candice Bailey, “Revenge or drug turf behind gang war,” Cape Argus, April 07, 2006. p. 2 http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20060407101843490C427015
5. Pearlie Joubert, “Tik, tik, tik…tock,” Mail&Guardian Online, November 23, 2006.
6. Di Caelers, “Crystal Methamphetamine addiction soars at an alarming rate,” Cape Argus, April 07, 2005. p. 1, http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050407095309870C925166
7. Karen Breytenbach, “Crystal Methamphetamine is taking over, say shocking drug stats,” Cape Times, November 07, 2006. p. 4, http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20061107053710758C826193
8. Pearlie Joubert. Ibid.
