The phenomenon of drugs in our communities is a problem. Many families are broken as a result. Young people are becoming hobos because they are addicted to drugs. This is a scourge that we need to fight as a collective.
As communities, we need to unite against drug lords in our areas. Drugs and alcohol have taken centre stage in our communities and are killing our loved ones.
Our brothers and sisters are addicted to drugs. Every community has that well-known spot that sells drugs or alcohol, but no one talks about these things or reports the culprits.
Instead, we embrace and treat them as role models doing a great job.
Can’t we see these substances are killing our families?
Why can’t we stand up and talk in one voice to clean our streets and chase away all these people?
There’s little that the government is doing to curb the scourge. Some of our law enforcement agencies are accused of being in cahoots with drug dealers.
Rightly so, we have all seen police vehicles driving past some of the houses that allegedly sell drugs and unlawful shebeens. They simply throw a blind eye. At times, they just stop and chat with the perpetrators.
No one gets arrested. If that happens, you will see the perpetrator a few hours later roaming the streets again.
Some of our officers are greedy and that affects us. I believe that the majority of the foreigners who come into our country are fully informed about all the loopholes in our justice system and our policing. They are using all these for their self-enrichment.
I strongly believe that when our officers arrest someone who is selling drugs, they should ask where they get them. The reality is that no one is manufacturing drugs in Philippi or Khayelitsha.
However, because some of our officers are working directly with perpetrators they don’t do that, instead cover up for them.
I maintain that nothing can defeat any government if the officials work together. The problem is we have snitches inside our government offices.
Communities are afraid to tip off the officers because the very same officers are on the payrolls for some of the drug lords. We need dedicated officers and people who are prepared to die for their country, not the sell-outs.
Our officials need to up their game.