Calls for specialised narcotics unit
Crime-fighting and not overloading detectives with work is important to the safety of communities.
The Democratic Alliance has called for a specialised narcotics unit to deal with drug-related crimes.
In a press statement issued by the DA, the amount of drug-related convictions made by the Edenvale SAPS were highlighted.
“Recent replies to Parliamentary questions reveal that the drug conviction rate at the Edenvale SAPS is alarmingly low,” said Member of Parliament Mike Waters, the Lethabong Constituency Head.
He said that during the 2015/2016 financial year, only 19 of the total 330 drug-related cases that went to court were convicted.
“The state of affairs requires immediate attention and I will be writing to the Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, requesting his urgent intervention in this matter,” said MP Waters.
He highlighted one of the possible causes that has resulted in the stated statistics and this was the dismantlement of the specialised narcotics unit.
“We need a specialised unit that is trained in identifying illegal substances and can see a case through to a conviction,” said MP Waters.
“Our children are becoming targets of drug peddlers and the effects on our community are devastating with many young lives being ruined,” he said.
According to the DA, the Edenvale SAPS managed the following drug-related conviction rates over the last three years:
- 2013/2013 58 out of 302 cases convicted.
- 2014/2015 41 out of 410 cases convicted.
- 2015/2016 19 out of 330 cases convicted.
“In just three years there has been a 70 percent decline in drug-related convictions from Edenvale,” said MP Waters.
MP Waters added that a possible work overload could also have a direct and negative impact on the ability of detectives to get convictions.
“While the maximum number of cases each detective is supposed to investigate at any given time is 45, a recent visit to the station revealed that the detectives at the Edenvale SAPS are investigating 90 cases each. This is double the maximum number of cases any detective is permitted to investigate at any given time,” said MP Waters.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it would not be able to provide comment by Friday, July 8, as requested by the NEWS.
“There are processes to be followed before we can give our official position on any enquiry, especially that requires the release of statistics,” said regional spokesperson for the NPA, Ms Herbetin Louw.
The NPA said it would contact the NEWS on Monday, July 11, with the relevant information. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
The spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Warrant Officer Jean Olckers, referred the NEWS to the Gauteng provincial spokesperson for the SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.
Lt Col Dlamini said his office was unable to comment on the matter as it was raised at Parliament. He referred the NEWS to the Minister of Police.
“These questions and issues will be dealt with at Ministry’s level,” said Lt Col Dlamini.
The NEWS was advised by the office for the Ministry of Police to forward an enquiry to its media department. Comment was requested by Friday, July 8 by 12-noon. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
