Police Oversight and Community Safety
Question by:
Hon Galil Brinkhuis
Answered by:
Hon Anroux Marais
Question Number:
6
Question Body:
- Whether the SAPS has made any progress in shutting down the more than 2 000 drug houses in the province; if so, (a) how many drug houses have been shut down, (b) where have they been shut down and (c) how many arrests have been made;
- whether any municipal-owned houses were used as drug houses, if so, (a) how many and (b) where were they located;
- what preventive strategies has her Department implemented to stop the reopening of drug houses?
Answer Body:
(1) (a) Total number of drug houses closed is 535.
(b) The drug houses have been closed throughout all six Districts, including sub-Districts, within the province.
(c) 54 332 arrests have been made for dealing and possession of drugs since 1 April 2025.
(2) The member to pose the question to the City of Cape Town.
(3) The Department does not have a mandate to close drug houses or to stop them from opening. The Department works together with relevant stakeholders including the SAPS, City of Cape Town and municipal law enforcement to implement the Western Cape Safety Plan and substance abuse harm reduction programmes.
Date:
Friday, October 31, 2025
