MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The community of the greater KwaNonqaba area last week took a brazen stand against drug abuse and the selling of drugs in the area. However, the leaders are asked to keep their campaign within the ambit of the law.
The KwaNonqaba police invite the community to work with law enforcement to strengthen the efforts of the members of the police to eradicate the area of all drugs and drug dealers.
"Members of the KwaNonqaba police conducted operations at 24 premises in the greater KwaNonqaba and Asla Park areas this past weekend.
"In 20 of the operations, drugs were found and arrests were made. We expect to bring those perpetrators before the courts soon," the police station commissioner, Lieut-Col Azisa Madongana, said.
She invited the community to maintain its vigilance against drug dealers and to strengthen the hand of law enforcement in ridding the area of this scourge.
"Working together, we can ensure that drug dealers realise there is no place for them in our area.
When I joined the KwaNonqaba police, I said the station would maintain a zero tolerance policy against drug dealers. Let's rather fight crime together."
Apart from the search operations at the various premises, several other operations were conducted in collaboration with other sections of the police, also in the Da Gamaskop police station's jurisdiction.
"The South African Police cannot condone the vigilantism or any illegal conduct of last week, especially on Wednesday evening, 27 February.
"However, we invite the community leaders to maintain the pressure on drug dealers through official law enforcement. Share valuable information; assist the police in their clampdown on drug abuse," the colonel said.
She added that a number of undocumented foreign nationals were traced and necessary proceedings carried out in last weekend's operations.
Open spaces
Last week's community action may have seen the closure of several outlets from which drugs were sold, but the dealers have not stopped dealing.
According to the spokesperson for the KwaNonqaba police, Sgt Kapp, information suggests that drug dealers are now using public open spaces and public areas to sell drugs.
"We appeal to the community to report any suspicious behaviour.
Together, the community and police can maintain the growing tide against drugs and make KwaNonqaba a safe area for all our children."
The Da Gamaskop Police Cluster will continue with its anti-drug campaign, Lieut-Col Madongana said.
A Joint Operations Centre under the command of the cluster is coordinating operations not only in KwaNonqaba but in all of the greater Mossel Bay area.
At a public meeting on Thursday evening, the community insisted that joint operations against the perpetrators of crime be conducted.
Lieut-Col Madongana said: "The community cannot be held hostage by either drug dealers, thugs or vigilantes.
"Innocent people cannot have their lives disrupted by mob justice.
That is why we request the community to strengthen the hand of the police in every effort to act decisively against not only drug dealers, but against all criminals."
The colonel said family members should not protect criminals, because criminals did not protect the community.
Incidents were reported where homeowners of their own accord had stood up to drug dealers.
In one instance, a homeowner had a structure on her property torn down and burnt as she thought it was the only way to rid the area of suspected drug dealers.
KwaNonqaba Police Station spokesperson Sgt Kapp in conversation with Wo Mhlana of the Public Order Policing Unit, which is maintaining high visibility in the community.
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