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MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - National Police minister Bheki Cele visited Mossel Bay over the past weekend as part of his Mayihlome campaign.
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He reiterated his call for stern action against the illegal sale of liquor and drugs. He said the prevalence of Tik was increasingly a problem, with significant implications for family and friends of those dependent on drugs.
Minister Cele and local ANC dignitaries and officials went on a walkabout in D'Almeida, where the minister met young and old.
He paid impromptu visits to several families in their homes and inspected shortcomings and problems that were highlighted to him, such as several elderly people having to use outside toilets. The minister's entourage also called on the communities of Asla Park, Endlovini and Elangeni before he departed from Mossel Bay for the Wolwedans community in Great Brak River.
Wherever he went, he was received with great enthusiasm.
Minister Cele went out of his way to interact with the youth and admonished a few young men for not yet having identity documents.
Residents were overjoyed and often the minister had to stop to have a selfie taken with some of the locals. A number of people were bold enough to challenge the minister on issues they were concerned about and Cele made time to listen patiently and interact with the individuals.
In D'Almeida he met a man who introduced himself as Mr Meyer from Buisplaas. Meyer urged the minister to visit the rural community, "because there is a great need for our people to talk to you".
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Speaking to the Mossel Bay Home Ads News, Cele slammed illegal shebeens as being major enablers of crime and called for stricter laws to clamp down on underage drinking.
He was, however, quick to point out that not all shebeens were illegal, as some operated with licences. Underage drinking and drug dependency were a countrywide scourge that had to be eradicated as it affected everyone in the community negatively, he said.
"People wanting to deal in liquor should stick to the law; get the necessary permissions," the minister said.
He added that young people in particular became victims of Tik and other drugs, which often led to petty crimes and escalated to other crimes. He mentioned unemployment as one of the leading causes of crime and said: "I am here to work with the SA Police and will revert to my colleagues on the other problems the people of Mossel Bay have shared with me."
Read a previous article here: Police Minister Bheki Cele visits Mossel Bay
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