Pretoria - Democratic Alliance (DA) supporters – led by Tshwane mayoral candidate Solly Msimanga – marched to the Soshanguve Police Station, north of Pretoria, on Friday demanding urgent steps to stamp out drugs and substance abuse in the township.
“We were promised 10 [Tshwane] metro police officers per ward but the community of Soshanguve, to date, has not seen the presence of such. Drug abuse, rape, and child abductions are social crimes and we are disappointed that these are not a priority for the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD),” Msimanga told hundreds of DA supporters who were waving placards outside the police station.
“The only time we, the community, see metro police is when they issue traffic fines and illicit bribes. That should not continue. They are people in almost every corner gambling and to date, there are no law enforcement agencies doing anything about this matter,” he said. “This further perpetuates the level of crime such as theft and stabbings.”
Msimanga said instead of splurging millions of rand buying “Nyalas” (armoured vehicles), the Tshwane municipality should have invested in more measures to protect the community.
“I went to Hammanskraal region 2, there are more that 200 metro police officers there but there were only two vehicles in the whole region,” he said.
“I’m not blaming you, police officers, but I am blaming the corrupt politicians who are busy buying Nyalas that don’t serve you in anyway. R11 million Nyalas that are not serving in any way, instead of making sure that you have the right vehicles for the right terrain you are supposed to be working in,” said Msimanga, addressing the officers.
DA members shouted “enough is enough”. They waved placards written “drugs kill our children”, “jobs not drugs”, as well as “no more drugs in schools”.
Soshanguve Police Station’s commander Khumbulani Mbatha and the Tshwane Metro Police director for regional policing Basil Nkhwashu were present to receive the DA’s memorandum.
Soshanguve resident and supermarket cashier Isabel Moyo said the drug problem was prevalent.
“It’s not safe here, especially for women. We experience crime daily and I don’t think police are doing anything. We only see them driving by in fast cars. If you are delayed at work, you can’t walk around here at night. It’s bad,” said Moyo.
African News Agency