Vacant police houses are drug havens
Evidence of drug use as well as people living illegally at both houses was found.
DRUG dealers have apparently been using two vacant police houses in Scottburgh to ply their trade… right under the noses of the boys in blue.
The houses are supposed to be looked after by the National Department of Public Works, but it seems the buildings are being used with gay abandon by drug addicts and vagrants.
Driving along Erskine Street in Scottburgh, one gets the sense of a beautiful street in a leafy suburb…. until you pass house numbers 41 and 43.
These are derelict and an absolute eyesore.
Last week, the Mid South Coast Mail was tipped off by a concerned neighbour who wished to remain anonymous.
The caller stated that they had recently witnessed a drug deal taking place on the corner of Allen and Erskine Street.
“Three men were involved. An exchange took place and money was discussed in loud voices. The men then walked down Erskine Street toward the derelict police houses and entered one of them.”
The caller contacted the Scottburgh SAPS and spoke with a Sergeant Pillay, requesting that a police van be sent to investigate. No-one arrived.
A second call was made, this time answered by a Constable Khuzwayo.
The constable informed the caller that nothing had been entered into the Occurrence Book.
The Mail, with the assistance of Magma Security, then went to investigate the abandoned houses. Evidence of drug use as well as people living illegally at both houses was found.
Scottburgh SAPS was contacted for comment and replied: “We do not have a Sergeant Pillay working at the Scottburgh SAPS, but the report was relayed to the patrol vehicle via the police radio.
“The patrol vehicle was in Pennington, but a senior member of the Umzinto K9 unit heard the report over the radio and responded immediately,” said spokesman, Captain Vincent Pandarum.
“There was a man on the premises preparing a meal. He was told to leave after the policeman searched him. The other two men had already left.
“Scottburgh SAPS Station Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Praga Naicker, has now tasked his members to visit the vacant houses in Erskine Street regularly to ensure that nobody trespasses or commits any crimes on the premises”, added Captain Pandarum.
The National Department of Public Works was contacted for comment, but the Mail had not received any feedback at the time of publishing.
