Drugs hero joins ANC

01 July 2016 - 09:04 By OLEBOGENG MOLATLHWA and QAANITAH HUNTER

The Eldorado Park mother who wrote a letter to President Jacob Zuma complaining about rampant drug use in the area in 2013 will stand as an ANC councillor.Dereleen James has been officially unveiled as the party's candidate to contest local government elections in ward 18 on August 3.She rose to prominence when she wrote a letter to Zuma asking him to intervene to end the drugs scourge plaguing Eldorado Park youths, including her son.James was flanked yesterday by ANC Greater Johannesburg chairman mayor Parks Tau, Zuma and ANC Gauteng secretary Hope Papo as she was officially introduced to the community.James's first address was welcomed with rapturous applause as she told supporters of her passion for the youth and especially of ridding Eldorado Park of drugs.In her letter to Zuma, she wrote about the critical state of the area."A wave of drugs has swept over our community and has taken over our lives," she wrote.James is known throughout the community for taking on druglords in the area.She must help wrest control of the ward from the DA and yesterday's door-to-door campaign in ward 18 appears to have been a perfectly timed charm offensive.Speaking to reporters at the Andries Meyer Old Age Home, Zuma heaped praise on James, arguing that her efforts had helped bring changes to Eldorado Park."I must say today there is now an organisation that is working against the use of drugs. I appreciate the resilience of that lady ," said Zuma.But what was also visible yesterday was Zuma's out of character door-to-door campaign.The president made several promises to residents and vowed to make good on them.Daniel Louw, a teacher in Eldorado Park, asked the president to intervene in the refurbishing of Eldrige Primary School, which he claimed was a health hazard...

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