Bring back specialised units to deal with drugs – DA
The DA has called for the reintroduction of specialised police units to deal with crimes - in particular the Narcotics Unit
The DA marched to the Boksburg North SAPS on Saturday, May 30 out of protest over rampant crime.
The march was led by Boksburg East Youth Chairperson Siphiwe Molamodi, Provincial Safety and Security spokesperson Michele Clarke MPL and Boksburg East Constituency Head Janet Semple MPL.
“Drug abuse is on the increase in our communities and this results in increased criminality all around,” said Clarke.
“Drugs have permeated into our schools and public facilities and drug dealers are able to openly trade without much fear of reprisals.
“The statistics on drug use are quite shocking: For Cannabis, three tonnes in 2013/14 and 10 tonnes in 2014/15; for Cocaine 9.8 tonnes in 2013/14 and 54 tonnes in 2014/15 and for Heroin 187kg in 2013/14 and 41 tonnes in 2014/15.
“Substance abuse crime cases as reported in 2011/12 were 25 583, with 37 849 in 2012/13 and 74 475 in 2013/14 – a 291 per cent increase in two years.”
Clarke said there is apparently no specialised drugs court in operation, and the Gauteng Traffic Police has conducted no drug stops and searches over the past three years, nor do they have plans to do so.
“The National Drug Master Plan was launched in February 2014 and has apparently been implemented but is still not functional within Gauteng.
“The DA believes that all South Africans have a constitutional right to a safe living environment and South Africa is a country that follows the principle of the rule of law. It is the responsibility of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that the law is enforced.
“However, bad policy decisions has hampered the ability of the SAPS to combat crime effectively, leaving our communities less safe.
“The disbanding of many specialised units is one such decision. If the Narcotics Unit was still in place, the SAPS would be able to not just deal with drug users and dealers, but more effectively take on the whole supply chain of drugs.
“Therefore we as the DA have assembled and marched to the Boksburg North Police Station with a memorandum demanding that certain measures be implemented.”
Such measures according to Clarke include:
* Calling for more visible policing around schools to deter drug dealers from attempting to sell illicit substances to learners;
* Calling for more frequent raids unannounced of drug dens facilities where drugs are suspected of being traded; and
* Calling for proper investigations into police officers who are accused of colluding with drug dealers in our community.
“The DA believes that with these measures in place, the fight against drugs and drug related crime in our communities can be won and we are prepared to work with the SAPS to achieve these goals.”DA march against drugs in Boksburg
