Eersterust residents fed up with drug dealers
The Eersterust community is tired of drug dealers operating in the area and poisoning their children.
Eersterust community members came together at the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court on Monday to oppose bail for three alleged drug dealers who operate in the Eersterust community.
This after the Eersterust Local Drug Action Committee (ELDAC) held a peaceful protest at the Eersterust Police Station on Friday morning.
Desiree Fischer, president of ELDAC, said that the community wanted to sign a petition to change the law surrounding drug possession and dealing.
“Currently, it is a petty crime, but we want the government to change the law surrounding drug charges, to make it a more prominent crime. At the moment, these people are getting bail easily and they are usually back on the street the same day that they are arrested,” Fischer said.
“The police are working very hard to arrest these people, just to have their lawyers come in and arrange for bail. This is not acceptable. So today, we are holding another peaceful protest at the Magistrate’s Court, where three drug dealers will appear in court.”
One of the protestors on Monday, Elaine Layte, said that two of her children were using drugs.
“I have children using drugs and it is these drug dealers’ fault. They poison our children. We want to remove the owners of the houses where these drugs are being made and distributed from. Hopefully this will make things better,” Layte said.
Like all the other protestors at the court, Jennifer Herrings is very concerned about the safety and future of the children in Eersterust.
“They are targeting even the young children, giving them a ‘pakkie wakker’, which is what they call the drugs. It has to stop,” Herrings said.
The protesters were thrilled when the three alleged drug dealers were denied bail on Monday and a formal application to request bail will take place at the Hatfield Magistrate Court on 16 March.
According to Eersterust Police spokesperson Constable Sam Shibambo, the Local Drug Committee had been working closely with the police to help get rid of these people in the community.
He urges the community to keep helping to fight this crime.
“They should continue blowing the whistle until we are rid of each and every drug dealer in Eersterust,” Shibambo said.
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