Chiara Carter
A backward glance through the two-and- a-half years since the anti-drug group People against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) sprung to national prominence is a depressing litany of empty promises and unsuccessful endeavours by the authorities.
The period saw ongoing bloodshed, few arrests, many collapsed cases and only a handful of convictions.
1996: Following the murder of Rashaad Staggie during a Pagad demonstration, the organisation gained international prominence. Police vowed to track down Staggie’s killers, but never succeeded.
Meanwhile, authorities, including Minister of Justice Dullah Omar, met with Pagad leaders to discuss their campaign.
However, the organisation, which had given Omar an ultimatum in May, continued to target the homes of alleged drug merchants and several violent incidents occurred.
While Pagad leadership changed, the gangsters announced the formation of Core, a community forum for reformed gangsters.
August 1996: Western Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner Leon Wessels said there was a public perception that police were not doing enough, but in fact they were “doing their best”.
Carrying weapons at public gatherings was banned.
November 1996: Police said they would no longer tolerate the carrying of arms at public gatherings or the wearing of disguises. Following a spate of arrests, senior police said they were getting on top of the situation.
January 1997: Clashes between rival groups lead to a situation police described as “anarchy”.
April 1997: Then Western Cape MEC for safety and security Gerald Morkel appealed for calm and made an urgent call for an end to the violence.
August 1997: Police denied that there was a “state of war” on the Cape Flats.
September 1997: The National Crime Prevention Strategy operational committee discussed the spate of murders on the Cape Flats and decided to send 70 additional senior police to the region. SAPS chief executive officer Meyer Kahn subsequently sent 1 300 additional police to the Cape after noting that the region was indeed in a state of virtual war
October 1997: After a meeting between President Nelson Mandela and security chiefs, the government announced steps to tackle the violence.
Top investigator Ivor Human was sent to the region to head investigations. Police were given additional powers by National Commissioner George Fivaz. These included the right to cordon off certain areas and the right to search without warrants
A joint defence force and police project, Operation Recoil, was announced. The moves were hailed by police and politicians. Wessels said clearly there was the political will to back police and success was certain. However, national police sent to the region left after experiencing little co-operation from local police.
January 1998: Police claimed a breakthrough after they arrested flower-seller Ebrahim Jeneker in connection with a series of assassinations of gang leaders. The case subsequently collapsed.
March 1998: An initial investigation by Public Prosecutor Selby Baqwa found that police had blundered in their past investigations of the Staggies’ Hard Livings gang. Violent crimes unit head Leonard Knipe blamed Pagad for an upsurge in gang violence.
May 1998: Police were sharply criticised after statistics released indicated they had few successes in investigating the ongoing violence.
June 1998: R500 000 was offered as a reward after a spate of attacks on local businessmen. Police said they were investigating whether the attacks were linked to a protection racket and whether those attacked had refused to donate money to a vigilante group.
August 1998: MEC for Safety and Security Mark Wiley called for drastic steps to curb the violence
The bombing of Planet Hollywood restaurant at the V&A Waterfront signalled a move towards overtly political targets. The bombing led to outrage and promises of swift action to find the perpetrators. Despite police hopes of a breakthrough, the bombers have not been found.
September 1998: Wessels said police intelligence was not faulty, pointing to a breakthrough in investigating a housebreaking syndicate. He admitted police did not have a suspect for about 67 bombings.
November 1998: Mandela warned groups not to use religion to further their own agenda.
November and December 1998: Several prominent gangsters were murdered and several children killed in shooting incidents on the Cape Flats, provoking public outrage. A bomb exploded at a synagogue. There was open speculation about the rift between Knipe and crime intelligence chief Jeremy Vearey.
January 1999: After a bomb blast at the waterfront, the theft of an arms arsenal from Claremont police station and violent clashes with demonstrators, police admitted they failed to combat Pagad- related crimes. Operation Good Hope was announced – a programme which will see police, money and resources sent to the province, and the possibility of anti- terrorist laws being promulgated.
West Metropole area Commissioner Ganief Daniels is to head the operation, which aims to be intelligence-driven.
A crime summit to get community groups on board is planned.