Premier plans special hotline

GAUTENG premier Nomvula Mokonyane continues to spread the word in the fight against drug abuse among the youth.

Yesterday she visited Westbury, southwest of Johannesburg, where she encouraged residents to work with the government and police to end the drug "pandemic that has plagued South Africa".

Mokonyane said she had come to speak to the community because she had heard that Westbury residents - like those in Eldorado Park, outside Soweto, - wanted the Presidency to intervene.

"[President Jacob Zuma has made the commitment to fight drugs in the whole of South Africa, not just Eldorado Park," she said. "He does not work alone. That is why we are here. Because, we are the communities' foot soldiers.

"We will pronounce a hotline for people to give information anonymously.

"This is because people say they tell police about drug dealers, but the very same police tell the drug dealers." - mthethwaz@sowetan.co.za