Abdus-Salaam Ebrahim, the national coordinator of People Against Gangsterism And Drugs, is busy resurrecting Pagad following his release from prison. The 61-year-old spent nine years in jail and two on parole, but now that he’s a free man, he is driving the resurgence of his movement, with plans to open branches around the country.

With drug use and gang violence in the Western Cape reportedly on the rise, many residents – particularly in the Cape Flats – are pleased that the controversial Pagad movement is gathering momentum again. Ebrahim’s jail time meant he could not attend meetings or speak to the media for over a decade, leading to the slowing of the group’s activities. Now that Ebrahim’s parole has come to an end, he’s making house calls to win back support at grassroots level.

In Pagad’s fight against drug use, Ebrahim assures that “We handle them with love and force. We respect them, but if they don’t respect us, then we will use strength to show them that they must listen. If they think that nobody can do anything to them, then we will use some force to calm them down”.

Pagad plans to open branches in various neighbourhoods around the country, including Cape Town, Durban and eventually Johannesburg. And the group maintains it is doing God’s work.

[Source: Mail and Guardian]