Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Fight is on to crack down on drug houses in province
THE City of Cape Town’s Metro Police department said they have been unable to evict criminals living inside drug houses in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They said regular searches of drug houses continued throughout Cityowned rental stock and that often it followed the legal route after a complaint was received.
The SAPS indicated in a statement to the Weekend Argus that they have written to the Provincial Commissioner in the Western Cape on the intended investigation.
The DA in the Western Cape said they confirmed with the SAPS that there were 1 577 drug houses in the province in June 2021 and that 53% were in the Metro.
DA Western Cape spokesperson for Community Safety, Reagen Allen, said: “On Friday, the Western Cape Provincial Police Ombudsman, Oswald Reddy, published a notice in the Provincial Gazette announcing an investigation into police inefficiencies as it relates to their failure to combat the operation of drug houses in the province. Last month, I made a request to the Ombudsman for the matter to be investigated.”
“The DA in the Western Cape welcomes this investigation and we trust it will uncover the reasons why SAPS is unable to prevent these illicit activities from destroying our communities.
“This investigation being of paramount importance, I will in my capacity as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Community Safety in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament be requesting regular reports on the progress made by the Ombudsman.
“By the end of June 2021, it was confirmed by SAPS that there were 1 577 drug houses operating in the Western Cape, 53% of them in the Metro. The prevalence of illicit drug trade in the province, and the rest of South Africa, threatens the cohesion of communities – particularly those facing many socio-economic difficulties.
“Our Constitution places an obligation on the SAPS to protect and secure residents by preventing, combating and investigating criminal activities.
“In the Western Cape, thanks to the Police Needs and Priorities reports, we know that the perpetual mismanagement and under-resourcing of provincial SAPS makes it extremely difficult for this mandate to be achieved.
“The success of this investigation will contribute immensely to our crime-fighting efforts in order to keep residents safe. We support the Ombudsman’s request and call on any persons or organisations to make submissions that will further aid the investigation. Submissions can be sent via email to ombudsman@wcpo.gov.za before 20 May.”
Brigadier Novela Potelwa of the SAPS said they had written to the Western Cape Commissioner about the investigation.
“The office of the Provincial Commissioner in the Western Cape has through written correspondence been notified of the intended investigation by the office of the Western Cape police Ombudsman in relation to police inefficiency in dealing with drug outlets in the province. The SAPS respects the rule of law and will co-operate with the intended probe.
“The scourge of drugs and its manifestations, while concerning to all, requires a whole-of-society approach inclusive of all government entities as specified in the national drug master plan (2019-2024),” said Potelwa.
Chief Wayne le Roux of the Metro Police Department said regular searches of drug houses were done in their capacity, but the pandemic had slowed the process.
“Policing interventions, searches and engagements are conducted daily at identified units throughout the City. These are subject to legal prescripts and are based on complaints received.
“Policing efforts and actions to address criminality are ongoing and all security cluster partners are working jointly to address crime and related anti-social behaviour in society.”
Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie said they were successful in closing three drug houses in their area which were City rental stock and that the police often did not give their support where private property was used for the trade.
“When it comes to drug houses in our area, one is private and another is council rental stock. We have closed another in council rent houses in this area and it has been my mission to cancel these places and work closely with law enforcement.
“Our biggest challenge is privately-owned homes and we have little support from the police, and the legislation they can use POCA, Prevention of Organised Crime and the Assets Forfeiture Unit, they can use.”
Malusi Booi, Mayco member for Human Settlements, called on people to report illegal activity taking place in rental owned stock of the City and said an eviction could take place.
“The City’s Public Housing Department investigates all complaints of anti-social behaviour, including the illegal sale and use of drugs, at its properties and takes the appropriate action where required,” he said.
“The City takes allegations of drug dealing in its rental stock seriously and always follows the legal processes to evict any person who occupies a Community Residential Unit.
“The City evicts with a court order for three reasons: non-payment of rent, unlawful occupation and antisocial behaviour often linked to, but not limited to, gangsterism and drug dealing to protect our tenants.”
Eldred de Klerk, director of the African Centre for Security and Intelligence Praxis, said police together with the community and other role-players had a role to play.
“Policing is a verb and a range of small political decisions, budgets spends and activities and programmes undertaken by more than the institution of the SAPS. It is the legal duty of the local municipalities in which these so called, drug houses are located to deal with the criminogenic mix that affects the health and safety of residents, which include decades of underspend, continuous marginalisation, neighbourhood decay and debilitating grime. Consequently, these municipalities must ensure that democracy works by doing more to encourage a culture of community participation.”