Self-confessed Bela-Bela drug dealer Thapelo Motaung was conspicuous in his absence from the line-up of speakers at an anti-drugs protest march on Friday 3 August.
According to Bela-Bela SAPS Detectives Commander, Lieutenant Abel Phetla, the organisers were advised to withdraw Motaung from speaking, pending the conclusion of charges of drug-dealing against him.
Motaung was expected to appear before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on Friday 10 August.
The man did not make an appearance at the anti-drugs protest march, as expected, apparently due to potential legal implications.
Speaking at the end of the march, Bela-Bela station commissioner, Colonel Lindie Marx, said certain criminal activity in the town was attributed to substance abuse.
These, she said, included incidents of housebreaking and the theft of household goods to be sold to feed the widespread addiction to drugs.
She urged members of the public to go on a rigours tip-off campaign, to alert the police about the sale of drugs within the community.
Learners and other youths in attendance used the opportunity to ask probing questions as to the effectiveness of the police in dealing with the problem of substance abuse.
Ikageng Youth Centre co-ordinator, Jonas Moreroa, said as much as the organisers were encouraged by the attendance of many youngsters, he would have appreciated the participation of their
parents as well.
He said the centre would work closely with the police, to embark on unannounced body searches at certain schools, to root out the illegal possession of substances.
— The BEAT
