Corrupt cops warned
CORRUPT police members who collude with drug dealers in Chatsworth are being watched.
That is the message that Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa issued this week when he called on Chatsworth police station’s top brass to investigate officers who work with drug dealers.
Mthethwa made the remark on Wednesday when the Public Works Department handed over the revamped station.
He made his call to the station’s management after community members voiced concerns about the spiralling drug infestation in the area.
Last year, former KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize embarked on an anti-drugs campaign in Chatsworth. However, the programme lost momentum after he became ANC treasurer-general.
Veering away from his prepared speech, Mthethwa said it was not enough that drug runners were arrested and prosecuted. “It is necessary to arrest the small-time dealers and petty gangsters, but we want the big fish as well,” he said.
He was hopeful that when he next returned to the township, he would find a drastic improvement in the number of drug dealers arrested and prosecuted effectively.
Wednesday’s event celebrated the station’s R105-million revamp. The station, which is nearly 50 years old, caters to an estimated 250 000 people. The structural changes included improved ablution facilities and more holding cells.
The Anti-Drug Forum’s Sam Pillay welcomed Mthethwa’s comments. He said although many of the station’s officers were dedicated to the profession, there was a question mark over the lack of successful arrests and prosecutions.
“Nine years ago, when we first started this, we made a list of the top drug dealers in the area. In the time that I have been doing this, most of the dealers are still there, still operating. There are a few reasons for this, but undeniably
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