Members of the DA have on Youth Day (June 16) handed over a memorandum to the Reiger Park SAPS following an anti-drug march through the so-called notorious streets of the township.
The marchers requested that the police step up their efforts to rid the area of all the unscrupulous people dealing in drugs, inflicting the community.
The DA claims that it also invited the Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina, to receive a memorandum on behalf of the metro, but he never showed up.
Some of the main points within the memorandum meant to be delivered to the mayor include the following:
- To ring-fence grants to assist rehab centres in the metro;
- To establish special bursary funding for social workers to be placed at all existing clinics;
- To budget for a functional rehabilitation centre in each region of the metro;
- To upgrade existing youth centres to accommodate counselling for drug rehabilitation; and
- To provide a necessary budget to the Specialised Drug Unit to allow them to effectively do their job.
According to Tania Campbell, DA spokesperson for Health and Social Development in Ekurhuleni, the objective of the march was to highlight the drugs and substance abuse in the metro and create more awareness.
“The march sent a strong statement, not only to those who sell and deal in drugs but also to the policing and governing structures within the metro, that the residents of Ekurhuleni are sick and tired of the scourge of drugs that is gripping the youth in their communities,” said Campbell.
Community members joined and cheered as the sea of blue flooded Reiger Park streets, interacted with the community and eventually handed over a memorandum to the Reiger Park police.
“While we appreciate the presence of the acting station commander to accept the memorandum, as well as his commitment to ramping up efforts to rid Reiger Park of drugs, it was, however, disappointing not to see the mayor despite a letter of intention to march and a request for him to be present to accept our memorandum.
“The DA believes that these measures will go a long way to securing a drug-free society, however, the mayor’s no-show leads us to believe that he lacks the political will to help combat the drug scourge affecting our youth.
“Despite the blatant disregard from the mayor, the DA in Ekurhuleni will continue to put pressure on the metro and will stop at nothing to ensure a drug-free and safer environment for our communities,” said Campbell.
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