On July 5, two Boksburg North SAPS members were caught on CCTV cameras, warning possible drug dealers and illegal liquor sellers of a police operation.
A week later, on July 12, two members of the Boksburg North SAPS were arrested for corruption during a recent drug operation that was conducted by members of Organised Crime Germiston (OCG).
Lieut Juanita Coetzer, communications officer for the Boksburg North SAPS, says it is a big concern that there are police officers within the precinct who may be involved with the drug dealers in the area.
However, she emphasises that the arrest of the SAPS members should be a sign to the community of the new station commanders efforts to rid the station of corrupt police officers.
“This is not to say that previous station commanders were not determined to get rid of corruption from within, but the new station commander, Col Sam Mataba, has made it a top priority to root out the bad apples.
“The arrest of the two officers and the investigation of the other two should serve as a testament to the Colonel’s word,” she says.
Coetzer says that drugs are a problem in the area, and that there are many things that contribute to the situation.
She admits that the problem may have been escalated by the relationship that existed between drug dealers and corrupt officers.
The communications officer says that another reason for the increase in the selling of drugs, may also be blamed on the increase in demand.
She urges parents to be more vigilant, and not give their children large amounts of money.
“When children have too much money, they tend to want to experiment with narcotics. As time goes by, experiments turn into addictions, and then it becomes harder to rid the town of drugs,” she says.
She advises parents to keep track of how their children spend their money.
