This follows the mysterious disappearance of one of their brothers, whom they allege police from the Brixton SAPS beat up, suffocated and disposed of.
Acting commander of the Benoni Police Station, Col Thomas Maupa, said that they informed the Nigerians that a picture of the missing man, Theddeus Duru (52), has been circulated.
Among their grievances, the Nigerians also did not want the case investigated by the Benoni police.
“We informed them that the case has been taken over by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) and that the Benoni police will only investigate the case of a missing person,” said Maupa.
Nigerian Kingley Onyeri confirmed that an investigator from the Ipid came to take a statement from them.
On the flip side, their march to the police station left many residents in Western Extension fuming, with one reader writing a comment on www.benonicitytimes.co.za, saying he can’t believe “their audacity”.
“They flaunt the law, and then cry and demonstrate when something doesn’t go their way.”
Another commentator remarked: “They are up-in-arms over the disappearance of one of their brothers, when they have been destroying our youth for years, so they must bear the consequences for brazenly breaking the law with the sale of drugs.”
For years, residents of Western Extension have been accusing the Nigerians of being behind a roaring drug trade in the area, which they said, fueled the deterioration of the “once beautiful town”.
Several steps have been taken to fight the problem, with the CPF going on the offensive last year, by enlisting the services of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit, to help them in their fight.
According to a State advocate for the Asset Forfeiture Unit, John Wilson, in terms of section 51 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, the National Director of Public Prosecution (NDPP) may apply to a judge in chambers, or a magistrate, for an order notifying a person having an interest control over property, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that such property is an instrument of an offence.
The order is then served on the owner, and in the event the owner persists with renting out the property to drug traffickers, the Asset Forfeiture Unit will have no difficulty in seizing and forfeiting the property to the State.
Letters of eviction were delivered to such houses last year. Some complied, while others are pending.
