A notorious drug den that was seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit in Eastridge four years ago will be turned into a safe house soon. Chairperson of the Mitchell’s Plain CPF, Abie Isaacs said that an application was sent to the State to turn this den into a safe house, following mounting pressure from the community.

“It was then declared by the state in terms of the POCA act, where the state has the right to seize assets even though there is not more information regarding the developments in the matter,” said Isaacs.

The CPF wanted to give the safe house back to the community to utilise the house as a “one way stop” where awareness programmes could be run as well as activities to keep the children in the area active and away from drugs.

“This would be ideal as there are many challenges pertaining to women, children and youth and that would then be key focus areas.”

The safe house would also serve as a place where women could get help from an abusive marriage or partnership when there is no way for that particular person to get to the police station or a place of safety.

More importantly, Isaacs emphasised that the idea is to turn the bad connotation attached to the premises into positivity.

“We as the CPF would also be running projects from these safe houses as well as networking so that there is always help at hand no matter the difficulty faced by the people in the community,” said Isaacs.

He said that while only two houses has been seized in Mitchell’s Plain, it takes time and effort. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)