Addicts help protect marketers
To Msomi's surprise, he was told that there are a handful of the addicts on the street who decided to take it upon themselves to protect the marketers because of this.
Earlier this month, craft marketers in Scottburgh near the library on Scott Street celebrated the municipality’s sod turning ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for a much needed upgrade to the premises.
Although this project is still in the works, several marketers have been complaining about feeling unsafe there lately, especially late in the day.
Emmanuel Msomi, a well-known local from the area and founder of the non-profitable drug recovery organisation Laqakhaza Iphara Recovery recently came across posts on social media complaining about the state of Scott Street.
“I decided to go and do my own investigations last Friday and I saw first-hand what was happening,” said Msomi.
“Drugs are being sold like it’s normal around the craft market area, public toilets are filthy and vandalised, whoonga addicts are everywhere and the town is just not as good as it once was.”
After speaking to some of the people at the craft market, Msomi was told that there are times where criminals would try and rob them at the market, especially those who don’t have proper tables and shelters to keep their goods.
To Msomi’s surprise, he was told that there are a handful of the addicts on the street who decided to take it upon themselves to protect the marketers because of this.
“There are addicts who actually watch over the businessmen who operate their stalls later than usual which is pleasing to hear as many people look down upon addicts and see them as just a nuisance in town,” he said.
“Even at our non-profit drug recovery centre, we always emphasise that addicts must not be judged and automatically treated as criminals just because they are on drugs, as some of them like I witnessed are trying to be a help to society.”
Msomi also stated that the same applies to some of the addicts who pose as car guards.
“Yes, a lot of the bogus car guards harass people for money, but I personally saw a few of these guys working hard to try and control traffic in Scott Street, so thank you to the community members who have been supporting these good guys,” he said.
“We should applaud those who are trying to do better and help our town.”
At a recent community policing forum meeting held at Scottburgh police station, it was noted that drugs are a problem in Scottburgh.
Police mentioned that operations are being planned to potentially curb drug usage in town.
Msomi hopes that one day, the streets of Scottburgh are rid of drugs and believes that everything else will thereafter fall into place.
He is also, together with the market businessmen, eagerly waiting for the craft market upgrades and for measures to be put in place to prevent criminal activity from occurring on the premises.
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