Underground drug dens in Heideveld were demolished by police on Thursday and residents rejoiced as druggies and skollies were removed from the area.
This follows ongoing complaints from residents in Elsja Court about criminal activity taking place at hokkies erected outside the electrical substation and near the Heideveld Emergency Centre.
Shortly after 8am Thursday, a large contingent of Manenberg cops assisted by Metro Police officers were seen removing the hokkies and discarding drug paraphernalia.
Cops got a skrik when they found the drug users had dug deep holes in the soil to sleep and smoke drugs in.
“Jinne, hy kom uit soos ’n slang hier uit!” a cop was heard saying.
Ralph Jansen of the Heideveld Community Neighbourhood Watch says residents are gatvol of the goings-on in the hokkies.
COMPLAINTS: Ralph Jansen. Picture: Monique Duval
“They use that hokkies to smuggle drugs for a mert named Tandjies but they also smoke there,” he says.
“They have dug holes into the ground right by the substation.
“People coming to the hospital in the morning are being robbed and the perpetrators are hiding in those hokkies.
“We want them gone because the children cannot even play outside the court because they leave their used needles and other things laying around.”
Ward councillor, Anthony Moses, says he is being inundated with complaints as parents fear for their children’s safety.
“They are involved in robberies and I have personally chased after a few of them after robberies,” Moses says.
“We cannot tolerate that they destroy our community and they look after that garden there and that is nice but they cannot use it as a cover for criminal activity.”