Reluctance to arrest in domestic cases leaves father with awful fear
A FEAR of getting into a physical fight and killing his drug-addicted son has left a Port Elizabeth man desperate to have him jailed – for his own safety.
Mkhuseli Dunana, 42, has made several attempts to have his 25-year-old son, who is not being named and does not have the same surname, arrested and tried for breaking into his Kwazakhele home.
Dunana says police have not been helpful.
He feels let down by the system.
After the latest break-in, late last month, police did not arrest his son despite him being in possession of the stolen goods, Dunana said.
After enduring emotional abuse for nearly seven years, and watching his family fall apart, getting his son arrested is a last resort for Dunana.
The father of three said his son’s drug addiction had started in Grade 10.
“I don’t understand how I have opened four cases in the space of a year against one person but the police are not arresting him,” he said.
“My mother tried to help him [but] he started stealing from her. As a result my mother moved out. She could no longer deal with him.
“My biggest fear is me getting so angry one day because through all of this I don’t get assistance from the police.
“I fear I might do something that will lead to me ending up at St Albans.”
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said police avoided getting involved in domestic cases where family members were involved.
“The son was charged, the case is currently in court,” he said. “In domestic-related cases we don’t normally arrest. We take the matter to court.”
Beetge said the young man had appeared in court on April 22.
Dunana said he had been informed by police that his son was released on bail but was unaware of a court case. South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Eastern Cape director Roger Weimann said Dunana’s case was similar to those of hundreds of parents in the province who were too ashamed to speak out or seek help.
“One addict will affect 16 people around them. With the size of our population it means everyone somehow has been affected,” Weimann said.
“The impact is quite debilitating as it becomes all about getting that person help. A lot of people do not know how to deal with that.
“Statistics are showing more and more families are placed in a situation where they don’t know where to turn for help.”
Shepherds Field rehabilitation centre auxiliary social worker Ewonke Mdyogolo said cases like Dunana’s were common.
“A mother recently walked through our doors desperate for help for her 20-year-old drug-addicted son.
“We regarded the matter as urgent because the mother was trying to get him away from the community who were baying for his blood after he had broken into their homes.”
Mdyogolo said it was fortunate that the woman’s son was willing to get treatment.