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ActionSA has laid criminal charges against the Fast Gun Gang after it published threats against Team Fix South Africa Member for Substance Abuse announced yesterday, Dereleen James, and her family.

Yesterday the gang published posts on Facebook which sought to single out Dereleen James and her family for the recent arrest of their members in recent law enforcement operations in Eldorado Park, which has been taken as a threat to James and her family. 

Today ActionSA leaders stood alongside James at the Eldorado Park Police Station and laid criminal charges against members of the Fast Guns Gang and demanded swift and immediate action by the SAPS. 

James’ record in fighting drugs and substance abuse is precisely why ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, appointed her to this role. She has been appointed by the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture as a board member of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport. She has also been appointed by the Minister of Social Development as a board member of the Central Drug Authority and is a member of the SAPS National Anti-Drug and Gangsterism Priority Forum.

Dereleen authored the "Dear Dad" Open Letter, which garnered widespread outcry for urgent intervention to stop the scourge of gang violence. This led to the Former President personally visiting Eldorado Park, where he acknowledged her continued fight.

Dereleen founded The Yellow Ribbon Foundation, a non-profit organisation, registered community-based centre, dedicated to strengthening the fight against substance abuse through educational, faith-based, community and social entrepreneurial initiatives.

The impunity with which these gangs have operated across our country is why Herman Mashaba saw fit to dedicate one of only 18 members of a shadow cabinet to the role of Substance Abuse. These gangs continue to tear apart families and communities under the nose of law enforcement. When strong and capable community leaders emerge, the safety of such leaders and their families is threatened. On the long list of failures by the ANC government, nationally and here in Gauteng, the breakdown of the rule of law must be one of the greatest failures. 

Any government led by ActionSA is going to declare a real war on drugs and gangs. Law enforcement will receive the full backing from ActionSA political leadership to pursue those who make money from the misery that they cause in our communities. Essential to this, is the end of the era in which gangs operate and deal drugs while the police do nothing about it. 

It is evident that Dereleen James is the right person to lead the fight against drugs and gangsterism in South Africa. ActionSA stands alongside James and her family and will not back down.

Issued by ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont