Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT Communications Directorate - Office of the Premier
MEC JESSIE DUARTE EXPECTS POLICE TO GET TOUGH ON "STREET BASHES"
The Gauteng Ministry of Safety and Security has received a stream of calls from people complaining about disruptive weekend "street bashes" in areas stretching from Tembisa and Katlehong through to Soweto, Eldorado Park and Kagiso.
According to these callers, whole streets are closed off - allegedly with the consent of local police and traffic police - and from Friday night well into Sunday loud music blares non-stop across the neighbourhood, liquor is sold indiscriminately on the pavements and access of local residents to their homes is impaired.
MEC for Safety and Security Jessie Duarte says "street bashes" are a clear threat to public order. "We have received reports that residents who complain about the noise are assaulted by the party- goers. We are told that the organisers of street bashes are quite happy to sell liquor to school children.
"It is quite unacceptable that behaviour that is so anti-social and quite clearly illegal can continue blatantly, without police intervention. I have asked the Gauteng Commissioner of Police, General Maharaj, to investigate this question and to give me an explanation."
Captain Jan Combrinck, spokesman for Commissioner Maharaj, says that it is quite impossible that formal police sanction could be obtained for "street bashes" where liquor was sold and consumed in the manner described by complainants.
He has invited members of the public to supply him with information about the exact location of "street bashes" and also to report to him instances where local police stations failed to act upon complaints about these disruptive parties.
Captain Combrinck can be contacted during working hours at (011) 407 0307.
Issued by the Gauteng Communications Directorate on behalf of the MEC for Safety and Security.
February 12, 1996
Inquiries to Jo-Anne Collinge: Tel 240 1712