BY REGINALD KANYANE

DRUGS continue to destroy the youth of South Africa. And South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in North West called on a fight against drugs to be intensified. This came in a wake of more than R70m drugs were confiscated by police and South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) during the weekend.

The police intercepted the drugs at Kopfontein Port of Entry near Zeerust on Saturday night. They were about to be smuggled into South Africa. Two men, a Tanzanian and a Zambian aged 42 and 37 were arrested in the process. According to police, they were allegedly entering the border from Botswana.

SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe called on all stakeholders to intensify a fight against drugs. He said this was a serious challenge facing communities.

“As SANCO in the North West Province, we want to commend the police for the arrest of three foreign nationals in possession of drugs worth R70 million at the Kopfontein border post near Zeerust.  The vigilance at the port of entry is critical to fight global terrorism and cross-border crime syndicates that undermine the sovereignty of our country as well as the safety of communities and economy.

“The fight against drugs must be intensified because they are destroying the future of young people.  Those arrested must be denied bail and be given harshest sentences that will serve as a deterrent to others who are involved in drug trafficking. We call on all stakeholders to help the police because this is a socio-economic matter,” he said.

Sebegoe further added that more resources needed for the kind of social redressing that can provide a more lasting reconciliation. He said interrogation on the social problems needed because they hold communities back.

Fatlhogang Youth Organisation co-ordinator, Kereng Plaatjie said her organisation continues to teach the youth about the danger of drugs. She said drug-usage among the youth is rife but they believe in the power of individuals.

“We always encourage the people especially the youth to change their own lives. That is why we believe in the power of social change. We encourage individuals take it upon them to live with dignity and respect. The power of the individual motivated to act is the power to change the world in which we live.

“We welcomed the intensified monitoring for cross border crime at the port of entry. One will just imagine how many lives would have being messed up by those drugs. Many of the youth using drugs are relate to historical patterns of structural inequality. Some of them concern a past dominated by a lack of opportunities. Still more are the consequence of social and economic disconnection,” she said.

North West police spokesperson, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said police noticed false compartment on a truck and used a grinder to open it. He said a total of 141 plastic bags containing mandrax were found inside the compartment.

 

“Approximately 1 000 drugs in the form of tablets suspected to be mandrax with estimated street value of R70 million were found. The case was then handed over to the Hawks for further investigation.

 

“The Hawks are investigating the case and the suspects are expected to appear in the Zeerust Magistrates Court soon. North West Provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane applauded members for their hard work that led to the success. She said that the police in the province will continue in the fight against transnational crime including drug trafficking,” Mokgwabone said.

 

Kopfontein border post has been notorious for the levels of alleged corruption that has allowed drugs, counterfeit cigarettes and even stolen vehicles to be smuggled in and out of the country.

 

In November last year, 18 police officers and two immigration officials were arrested in an unprecedented corruption clampdown operation at the border post.

 

The 20 officers were rounded up by the Rustenburg Technical Response team supported the Hawks.

 

Their crimes range from corruption where they allegedly facilitated the movement of goods and people contrary to their responsibilities and the law.

 

In most cases, police doing patrol on roads in the province were the ones who intercepted vehicles with illegal contrabands that would have passed through Kopfontein.

 

“Basic operations like searching people were no longer observed and in most instances, money has exchanged hands, allowing people to pass with things that are not legally allowed,” police said at the time of the arrest.

 

All those arrested at the border were men and it was not immediately clear how many female officers were involved in the graft.

 

“The arrested 18 police officers were suspended with immediate effect and internal disciplinary steps will kick-start with immediate effect,” police said.

 

The 20 officials’ case is still before the courts after they were released on R1 500 bail.

North West has seen the drug challenge going up particularly in areas like Mahikeng and Rustenburg.

 

A Nigerian man was recently killed after an alleged misunderstanding over a drug deal in Mahikeng.

 

The community has also raided homes of people suspected of selling drugs, destroying property as they complain that drugs were harming society.

Hawks head in North West, Maj-Gen Linda Mbana led a drug raid in Rustenburg where two kingpins and five other drug dealers were arrested.

She pointed out that her team would be all out to ferret out all drug dealers in the province. Those arrested in Rustenburg are set to appear in court soon.

Social development department provincial acting spokesperson, Petrus Siko said his department has the advocacy and awareness programmes including counselling services in place. He said programme aimed at curbing substance abuse within the communities.

“On advocacy and awareness, the department has a Ke Moja Strategy which loosely translated I’m Ok. It is a national drug awareness and prevention programme that aims to mobilise against drug abuse. We take this programme to schools where the learners are targeted.

“The programme is spread at service points (local municipalities), with intervention including door to door campaigns, puppet shows to children and peer to peer education. Ke Moja aims at reinforcing healthy and positive lifestyle. It helps children during school recess under a programme called Holiday Programme,” Siko said.

Taung-based motivational speaker, Rebaone Pudi said drug usage must be treated as a universal problem. He said the country’s particular history provides additional complications.

“Whatever the details may be, these problems exist. This is a very real issue that forms a challenging mix of circumstances for communities. As the youth we need to work towards unity in our diversity. Drugs affect us all, either you use them or not. We need to come up with strategic plans to root-out the epidemic.

“If we stop using and buying drugs from the suppliers, eventually their market will collapse. So we need to come up with campaign against drugs. We need to have a march that is in recognition that individuals have power to act against drugs through mobilisation,” Pudi said.

-TDN

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