Ntuzuma drug crime tops public meeting agenda

RESIDENTS of Ntuzuma battling a surge in drug-related crime that has seen the local clinic close after dark – after an attack on nursing staff – have been urged to come together to rid the area of the scourge.

Ward councillor, Happy Mkhize, said the drug issue plaguing the community would top the agenda at a public meeting with government officials next week.

The community was angered by the suspension of night services at the clinic.

This week, Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo temporarily closed the night services for the safety of staff and patients.

Commenting on the public meeting, Mkhize said she expected the different stakeholders to come up with resolutions that would lead to the clinic re-opening and Ntuzuma becoming a safer place.

“For now, we have strengthened patrols by the Community Police Forum (CPF) in order to catch the criminals,” Mkhize said.

She said local non-profit organisations had also stepped in to assist, by initiating drug-rehabilitation for those who wanted help to end their drug addiction.

“Many families affected by the drug problem were eager to help their loved ones, but didn’t know where to go,” she said.

Dhlomo’s decision led to concerns from the community members over being stranded for medical care.

The nearest medical facility is about 15km away.

Resident Nomusa Mthembu said crime was a big problem in the area.

She said the clinic often tended to patients who overdosed on drugs, or had stab or bullet wounds.

“We didn’t need to transport a patient even at night; we just walked to the clinic,” she said.

Mthembu blamed the crime problem on drug addicts who committed crimes for their next fix.

Another resident, Rejoice Mnyandu, said: “Our grandchildren are unemployed and do not have opportunities. Shutting down the clinic will not stop criminals and drug addicts; instead they will find someone else to attack.”

A nurse at the Ntuzuma Clinic, who did not want to be named, said it was scary for staff to work at night.

About 15km away is the Lindelani Clinic, which opens at night and has not had any criminal incident in a long time.

The staff at the clinic said they owed their safety to the community.

One of the nurses said that while they were aware of the attacks on staff at Ntuzuma Clinic, they hoped it would not happen to them.

Fikile Biyela, ward 38 councillor of Lindelani, said the regular community meetings where residents were reminded about the importance of looking after community facilities as their own, seemed to work.

“The fact that our clinic is close to the households and that some of the workers at the clinic are members of the community, makes it difficult for criminals to target the clinic.

“The CPF, assisted by the residents, is always on the look-out for wrong-doers,” he said.