However, while the police actively work to keep drugs off the streets, and the public prosecutors try to get the guilty convicted and sentenced, the drug problem is still very much present in our community, in our neighbourhoods, and in homes. The police rely in part on the community’s co-operation in reporting crimes such as drug abuse.
On Sunday, May 3 police officers arrested a man in the street for being in possession of drugs. The arrest was made on a quiet Sunday at 15:00 in the Central Business District when most of the shops were closed and the day is winding down.
On Freedom Day, May 1 in the early ours of the morning patrolling police arrested a man for allegedly being in possession of Crystal Meth. They found the suspect parked in a Volkswagen Golf.
According to drugfreeworld.org, “Crystal meth is short for crystal methamphetamine. It is just one form of the drug methamphetamine.” The site further explains the effects the drug has, “It is a dangerous and potent chemical and, as with all drugs, a poison that first acts as a stimulant but then begins to systematically destroy the body. Thus it is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behaviour and potential heart and brain damage. Highly addictive, meth burns up the body’s resources, creating a devastating dependence that can only be relieved by taking more of the drug.”
On April 28 police undertook a crime prevention operation and made several drug arrests on that day.
The police arrested two for allegedly being in possession of 24 pink plastic bags containing drugs. On the same day police arrested a suspect for allegedly dealing in drugs. Apparently when the police approached the suspect, he tried to run away and threw a plastic bag away.
Police caught him and found that the plastic bag contained dagga. They also arrested another suspect for dealing. The suspect apparently had 11 balls of wrapped dagga for a couple of hundred rand. Several other drug arrests were made that day as part of the crime prevention operation.
Capt Eddie Hall from Witbank SAPS said that is was a cluster operation and members from other stations including Delmas, Ogies, Vosman, Kriel, and Blinkpan work together to ‘flood’ the CBD with police. They made many other arrests as well.
“Not only do we see an increase in arrests, but we also see a decrease in crime reported in the weeks following the operation,” said Capt Hall.
As a member of the community you can start by reporting crimes in your community to Crime Stop: 08600 10111or getting involved with your local Community Policing Forum. In Sector 2 Del Judor Proper contact Ries on 083 334 8296. Sector 2 Blanchville and Die Heuwel contact their control room on 072 338 0140. Sector 5 Sub Sector 4 Klipfontein can be contacted on 072 122 1382 or on 072 890 0060 and Sector 5 Extension 5 can be emailed at friessalf@gmail.com.
