POLOKWANE – After overcoming her addiction to several drugs, the 29-year-old Polokwane resident *Wendy, says her main concern is to help educate residents on the availability of a variety of drugs in the city.
“It is not hard to buy drugs in any part of the city and anyone can buy them no matter who you are or what you look like,” says *Wendy.
She says she got involved with drugs about 16 years ago and even though she was still in school, it was not difficult to find someone who would sell drugs to her. “Today, drugs can even be delivered to your place of work,” she explains.
Review took a walk down some of the streets in the city with *Wendy and found that in almost all the areas, both business and residential, dealers are posted or can service you within half an hour. On this walk, many dealers approached *Wendy to sell her drugs, some even offered free samples.
“Most drug users in the city will tell you that they started with dagga and went on to harder stuff from there. In Polokwane, no one is arrested for dagga and people can be seen smoking it in public with no reaction from people around them.”
She says that in most cases people report drugs being sold but that the police do not arrest these dealers as they are seen as small fish. A source close to the police who is a specialised crime unit member, confirmed this.
She said that many of the issues with small time dealers are that they are being used as informants but this information doesn’t lead to arrests. “It is frustrating to see drug deals taking place and not being able to act on it. We want to uphold the law but the fact of the matter is that drugs and money rule and that our hands are tied,” the informant told Review.
*Wendy says she hopes by speaking out against drugs she is able to prevent others from falling victim to the same tricks, especially her two boys. “People need to keep reporting these criminals who sell drugs and when this does not help, the media needs to be informed to make sure that these people are identified and brought to book,” she says.
Sanca Administration Manager, Amanda Swanepoel, says it is a sad fact that people come to Sanca telling them about dealers who are not afraid of the law, especially not the police. She says that drugs in the city is a major concern and that parents should be aware of what their children are up to at all times. “Get to know their friends and know what they do with the money you give them. Be involved in your children’s lives,” she advises.
Polokwane Police Station Spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala tells Review that it is untrue that the police do not act on reports of drug dealing but there are people in some of these cases who can be used as informants and get amnesty; but that they must give immediate disclosure on the so called ‘bigger fish’ to the police or they will be charged. He says that people reporting drug dealers should not make use of the police station number, but instead call the crime office on (015) 290 6603/4.
“I am not saying that it will happen, but there may be some rotten apples in the basket and as police officers are just people, they can be negatively influenced,” says Phala. He urges residents to call the crime office where they can speak to the detective on duty and residents can rest assured the case will be pursued.
*Wendy – Her name has been changed in the story as to avoid being identified by drug dealers she had previous dealings with.
