Owners losing the battle against drug and prostitution trade

The owners of businesses situated in the ‘drug and prostitution capital of Gauteng’, literately have nowhere to go.

No matter how hard they try to sell their properties, buyers are not interested.

To make matters worse, clients are not prepared to support them as they fear for their lives and so food are taken from their tables while illegal trade seems to flourish.

Herbert Meyer, a mechanic in York Street since 1993, has been trying to sell his property for the last three years.

“But the moment prospective buyers come to view the property, they change their minds saying that the area is too dirty and therefore they are not interested.”

He says that he has lost several clients, especially females, who are too scared to support his business.

“When they enter the suburb they are waved down by drug dealers trying to sell their illegal goods to them. Other female clients would phone me and ask whether I would be able to fetch and deliver their vehicles.”

Copley Sutton who owns a kitchen cabinet business in York Street says he is too embarrassed to invite clients to a showroom on his property.

“The area is dirty, people are seen loitering in the streets and the drug dealers and prostitutes who approach my clients when they stop here are costing me clients.”

He says that he too is planning to sell his property in the near future, because “it feels as if there is no future here”.

He refers to a heap of rubbish next to his property over which the unbearable stench of urine is hanging. He says that according to his employee Eric Xolani drug dealers hide the drugs among the spoiled food, animal droppings, shattered glass and burnt remains of a mattress.

“This is a health hazard! But what is Mogale City Local Municipality doing about it? Absolutely nothing!” says Sutton.

“Why should I pay rates and taxes if they can’t even do their job by cleaning up the streets? When you phone them to report it, they say that someone will be sent out but it just does not happen.”

Scattered around his premises are empty drug sachets as well as used needles and condoms.

He says that the police is not trying to curb the drug and prostitution trade. “Allegedly they have been seen talking to the drug dealers and taking what seems to be money from them.” This is not the first time the news has heard of police benefiting from the illegal trade in this area.

The news contacted Colonel Luke Enslin, Commander of the Krugersdorp Cluster Drug Task Team for comment. His response on what the police is doing to get rid of the drug dealers will feature in next week’s edition of the news.

Chris Oosthuizen who is co-owner of CC Auto in Luipaard Street, one of Krugersdorp’s main roads, says that he too is fighting a losing battle.

“The moment a prospective customer stops to look at the vehicles on sale they are approached by prostitutes.”