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National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola says it is concerning that young children are being used as runners for drug-peddling in Westbury in Johannesburg and elsewhere in the country.
Masemola briefed the media after engaging with the Gauteng provincial police management.
This comes after seven teenagers were shot in what is believed to be a gang-related incident.
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Two of the victims were declared dead on arrival at hospital, while five others remain in hospital.
Masemola says they are searching for the masterminds of these heinous activities.
“A disturbing trend of what is of concern and quite disturbing as we gather this evening is the involvement of children in gang related activities. This is a disturbing trend that we have picked up in various parts of the country that young children as young as 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are being used as runners by older gang members and leaders. They are being recruited at a very young age and doing the dirty work for older members of these gangs.”
Masemola adds,” It is indeed a concerning trend that when police arrest these young gang members, you will find that many of these cases are withdrawn at court because the perpetrators are minors and they are then referred for other programmes, including diversion.”
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