The disturbing problem of easy availability of drugs and its usage in the township has led to regular police raids.
During a joint police operation to clamp down on drug trade, on Saturday, July 6, officers arrested 63 drug users and peddlers, within few hours.
According to Sgt Phathela Mashudu, spokesperson for the Reiger Park SAPS, because of this shocking number of drug-related crime arrests made in one day, it has now become clearly evident to the police that drugs is a serious problem in the area.
Heroin, cocaine, dagga and other type of drugs are the kind of street drugs you expect to find in the shady corners of the township, hiding away from the glare of law enforcement.
A community leader Eddy Flick says that the drug problem in the area has gone from bad to worst, and he calls upon the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, to intervene.
He also blames the authorities for being slow to address the problem.
Flick even suggested that calling the dealers “drug killers”, instead of “drug lords”.
He says calling them drug lords apparently makes them think they are men of high rank in the society.
“They don’t even care, as they openly sell drugs to adults, even school children as we watch on, without fear of arrest,” says Flick.
“Authorities know who these people are, yet we don’t seem to see any changes. Even if they do make an arrest, within a day the person is already out because he’s granted bail, and if he ever gets to go to court, he also gets out,” explains Flick.
“I personally know one of the dealers who were arrested on Saturday, and he is already back in the community, running his business as usual.”
Flick stresses that authorities must find effective ways on how to curb the menace of drug abuse and sale in the area, because most of the youngsters are drug addicts and involved in drug peddling.
“Authorities must tighten up the court system by giving stiffer sentences to the dealers; create drug awareness to the public and help to treat the people who are addicts,” he says.
Phathela admitted that since the beginning of the year, there have been a number of drug seizures in the area.
“Police have made a significant number of arrests in terms of drug-related crimes, unfortunately, when police make those arrests, the same community arrive at the police station and complain that we have arrested their friends and relatives.”
A community leader, Hein April, once mentioned during a community meeting held in the area, that poverty, poor service delivery, corruption and lack of youth programmes are some of the things that contribute to make Reiger Park attractive to drug dealers.
The police investigations have revealed that drugs are also being smuggled into Reiger Park.
