UPDATE: “Get out of our town!” – Nkobongo marchers

The high rate of crime and drug dealing in Nkobongo prompted more than 100 Nkobongo, Etete and Shakaskraal residents to march to Umhlali police station last Friday.

The march was against drug dealers in the township and corruption within the police service.

The marchers accused some officers of working with drug dealers and supplying them with illegal firearms and ammunition.

WATCH: Residents march against Umhlali SAPS

Shakaskraal councillor Doeshie Govender said that from 2014 to 2018, 14 people had been murdered by the drug lords.

“Our schools are now being infested with these drugs, like Whoonga. Children are being raped in school and the cops are doing nothing. The department of education is doing nothing, so we have decided to hold this peaceful protest,” said Govender.

The crowd, led by the Patrick Mbambo branch of the African National Congress (ANC) in Nkobongo, closed one lane of the R102 as they made they way to the police station.

A memorandum was handed over by ANC Youth League regional secretary Mncedisi Magubane to Umhlali police station commander, colonel Khethiwe Makhathini.

“We will look into the issues you have raised, but we will need your full co-operation in order to deal with these issues,” said Makhathini.

This was the second march this year, after residents led by Nkobongo councillor Ali Ngidi accused police of failing to deal with illegal guns, rape and taverns that operate 24 hours a day.

“There was nothing tangible we got from our last march. Therefore we had to march again because the situation is getting worse instead of getting better,” said Ngidi.

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