Pretoria -
Despite several efforts to tackle nyaope abuse, thousands of young people in Soshanguve are increasingly getting hooked on the drug.
Soshanguve police station head Colonel Khumbulani Mbatha said on Friday the use of nyaope was on the increase and threatening the lives of young people.
Mbatha told the Pretoria News during an anti-drug march organised by the DA that the phenomenon seemed to have infiltrated the schools, but police were doing all they could to nip it in the bud.
Once a week police embarked on unannounced raid at schools where they conducted stop-and-search operations as part of the anti-drug crusade, he said.
Pupils were in some cases targeted by drug-dealers as potential buyers, but Mbatha said police were on course to tackle the problem.
“During our previous campaign, we discovered dagga in one of the schools,” he said.
Police conducted regular anti-drug campaigns and aimed to arrest at least 50 people involved in drug-dealing every month.
Mbatha said police were in most cases let down by the justice system with regard to the prosecution of suspects. Having joined the station six months ago, the top cop said he found drug abuse was one of the biggest social problems in the precinct.
There were 225 police officers deployed at the station to combat crime, he said. “We have capable and dedicated police officers that are doing the job.”
Meanwhile, about 150 party supporters marched from Commissioner Street to the police station to deliver a memorandum.
Clad in the party’s blue colours, they chanted and held up placards with the anti-drugs messages.
DA mayoral candidate Solly Msimanga addressed them in front of the police station.
“Drug-abuse, rape and child abductions are social crimes and we are disappointed that these are not a priority for the Tshwane metro police,” he said.
Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, in his budget speech on Thursday in council, said R50 million had been set aside to fight against nyaope.
Pretoria News Weekend