Criminals have met their match during the week when Tshwane metro police arrested nearly 59 people for various criminal activities.
Superintendent Kuki Tshabalala, metro police spokesperson, said 25 of these arrests were for dealing in and possession of drugs in Centurion, Olievenhoutbosch and Eersterust.
She said 10 people were arrested for drinking in public and for drunken driving and another 10 for traffic violations such as reckless and negligent driving.
“About seven were also arrested during the week for cable theft in Pretoria West and the city centre,” Tshabalala said.
Other arrests include seven illegal immigrants and nearly 6 907 fines were issued during the week.
Rekord recently reported on three bakkie loads of dagga plants discovered in Highveld, Centurion, during February.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hero Gumbu said the dagga was estimated to be worth more than R300 000 on the street. He said the whole stretch of veld in the area the police visited is rife with dagga plants.
Gumbu said no arrests had been made, but the area is being monitored.
Meanwhile upset Eersterust residents have taken up arms in the fight against drugs in their community.
Nearly 3 000 people participated in a community march against drug-use during February and a memorandum was delivered by the Eersterust ministers fraternal to the presidency at the beginning of March.
A community campaign, #NoBailForDrugDealers, is scheduled to commence at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 16 March.
This comes after a community united against drugs pitched up at the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court on 9 March during a bail application hearing of three alleged drug dealers operating in the Eersterust community.
“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 they are arrested,” Desiree Fischer, president of the Eersterust Local Drug Action Committee (Eldac), said.
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