Community Safety
(a) What does the SAPS define as a “known” drug house, (b) how many known drug houses are there in the province, (c) when was this data last recorded, (d) what is the process behind their prospective closure in terms of the mandate of the police service, (e) what percentage and how many of these drug houses are in (i) the metropolitan area and (ii) rural areas and (f) how many drug houses have been shut down in the (i) 2017/18, (ii) 2018/19, (iii) 2019/20 and (iv) 2020/21 financial years?
(a) A "known" drug house is a premises which is allegedly used for the sale and distribution of drugs which is known as such to the community at large and the local South African Police Service.
(b) 1 577
(c) 30 June 2021
(d) The procedures/processes to close a "known" drug house include policing activities such as under-cover operations in terms of Section 252(A) of the Criminal Procedure Act, No. 51 of 1977, with the view of arresting and prosecuting perpetrators in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, No. 140 of 1992. The process may also include attempts to forfeit the premises to the State in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, No. 121 of 1998.
(e) (i) 836 (53%)
(ii) 741 (47%)
(f) (i) 245
(ii) 248
(iii) 257
(iv) 158
