Diepkloof residents fear rising crime linked to alleged drug abuse
Residents of Diepkloof Zone 6 say alleged drug users are fuelling housebreakings and theft, leaving families living in fear and calling for stronger community action to tackle crime and the sale of suspected stolen goods.
Residents of Diepkloof Zone 6 say they are living in fear as alleged drug users continue to target homes, leaving many feeling unsafe in their own community.
Several residents claim that housebreakings and theft have increased as substance abuse continues to plague the area.
One resident, Tshepiso Wesson, said she has endured repeated thefts allegedly committed by a known drug addict from her street since January.
Photo: Ofentse Mkase
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“What is really gut-wrenching is that I know the person who is stealing from me,” she said.
“The first incident happened shortly after my mother passed away. We stored some of her belongings in a trunk in the outside shack, but items kept disappearing. The suspect stole all the catering equipment that my late mother left me.”
Wesson alleged that the suspect would return every few days to steal more belongings. She has since installed floodlights around her home so she can switch them on whenever she hears movement outside at night.
Photo: Tsengela Muedi
According to Wesson, the suspect gains access to her property by jumping over a wall from a neighboring yard.
Fighting back tears, she described the emotional toll the repeated incidents have taken on her family.
Another resident, Seipati Phiri, believes an abandoned house in the neighbourhood has become a haven for drug users, contributing to crime and making residents feel unsafe.
Photo: Ofentse Mkase
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“The house has stood vacant for years. It has already been vandalised, and parts of it have been stripped and sold. People are afraid to walk along this street at night because drug users occupy the property,” said Phiri.
She said the community also has a role to play in addressing the problem.
“Residents must stop buying stolen goods sold by drug users. Addiction is like a cancer destroying our community because it also creates conflict. Parents of addicts are often judged as though they encouraged their children to commit these crimes. Instead of buying suspected stolen property, residents should report it to the community group so that the necessary action can be taken,” she added.
