MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In April this year, as reported in the Mossel Bay Advertiser, the communities of KwaNonqaba and Asla Park hosted a peaceful, organised and legal march to the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court, in protest against the prevalence of drug dealers and the consequence of drug dependency in their neighbourhoods.
In a petition handed over to the Department of Justice, an appeal was made to the local judiciary not to be lenient in cases where drug dealers are the accused and not to grant bail to suspects appearing on drug charges.
There was also an appeal to the judiciary to order the deportation of illegal immigrants found guilty on drug charges.
In a post circulated on social media last week Thursday, 5 September, a question was posed to the Mossel Bay Municipality on facebook regarding the perceived ongoing drug distribution problem at a tavern in Dyabaza Street, KwaNonqaba.
In the post, it is alleged foreign nationals are seen freely consuming alcohol and selling drugs, also to minors. "It is so disturbing to see children witness this madness. We as a poor community of Dyabaza Street, we don't have a right to take Law in our hands," the post continues.
Municipality reacts
Municipal spokesperson Colin Puren said: "The Mossel Bay Municipality responded to the reader on facebook when first he raised the concerns. The criminality experienced in Dyabaza Street - a public road - has to be dealt with by the SA Police.
"This municipality on Monday liaised with the station commissioner of the KwaNonqaba Police, Lieut-Col Azisa Mandongana, to ask that the police investigate the reader's concerns.
"The reader should also be advised to liaise with the KwaNonqaba Police to make a formal statement.
"Mossel Bay Municipality appreciates the reader's willingness to become involved in the fight against crime. The reader is best advised to also speak to the chairperson of the KwaNonqaba Community Police Forum, Edgar Ntebe, who also chairs several neighbourhood watch groups, to address the scourge of drug trafficking in the area through the various community structures."
Police respond
The KwaNonqaba Police, in a commitment to serve their community, have made inroads in the community, thanks to the continued support of the neighbourhood watch structure. According to the spokesperson of the KwaNonqaba Police, Sgt Kapp, a healthy relationship exists between the SAPS and leaders within the community of foreign nationals. "We invite all the members of our community, including foreign nationals, to join our ranks and become active members of our neighbourhood watch.
"We also strongly encourage anyone with concerns regarding crime in our community to report it. Ours is an approach of dialogue, therefore we invite the community to approach the police," says Sgt Kapp.
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