Friday, July 11, 2008

DA calls for the immediate re-opening of the Metro Police’s Drug Unit


Press release: Ward Councillor Karen Meyer, DA Spokesperson: Community Safety and Emergency Services, Tshwane. 11 July 2008

It is with shock that the DA learned about the closure of the Tshwane Metro Police’s Drug Unit this week.

This unit is according to the DA the most productive and effective unit within the Metro Police. Only this year the unit, with only five members, made 255 arrests – an outstanding achievement!

In Pretoria alone there were 8127 drug cases for 2007/08 which represents 25% of the total drug cases in Gauteng.

The fact that these members with their specialist background and training in line with international standards, are deployed to the Crime Prevention Unit without any consultation or prior knowledge, is unacceptable.

The Council is blaming the new ASD system, but the DA believes we were all mislead by the ANC because there was no indication regarding the closure of the Unit.

This unit would have launched a project in June to address heroin and cannabis problems at schools in Atteridgeville where up to 25 % (2500) of the learners are already addicted to drugs. Due to insufficient resources the project was cancelled that compelled the learners to hold a march on the 20th of June where the mayor was present.
We are clearly faced with a crisis that cannot be ignored. Even more shocking is the ANC’s and the Metro Council’s inability to give guidance and vision in this regard.

Less than two months ago the Council approved an amendment by the DA that the Metro Police purchase effective drug tests and report back on the success to Council within six months. This and the fact that two members of the drug unit has just returned from a course presented by the French government, underline the fact that the Council seriously lacks sufficient planning.

The DA cannot allow that this Division close its doors due to unprofessional management. The DA will therefore submit a motion at this month’s Council meeting insisting on the re-opening of the Unit.

Councillor Karen Meyer
DA Spokesperson: Community Safety and Emergency Services
Tshwane Metro Council
082 373 7662

DA eis die onmiddelike heropening van die Tshwane Metropolisie se dwelm eenheid!

Persverklaring: Wyksraadslid Karen Meyer, DA Woordvoerder: Gemeenskapsveiligheid en Nooddienste, Tshwane. 11 Julie 2008

Die DA is uiters geskok met die nuus dat die Tshwane Metropolisie Dwelmeenheid se deure hierdie week gesluit is.

Hierdie divisie is volgens die DA die produktiefste en mees effektiefste eenheid binne die Metropolisie. Hierdie eenheid, met slegs vyf lede, het hierdie jaar reeds 255 arrestasie gemaak, ‘n ongelooflike prestasie.

Slegs in Pretoria alleen wys ‘n totaal van 8 127 dwelmsake vir die 2007/08 jaar wat 25% van Gauteng se totaal is. In die laaste jaar alleen is ‘n toename van 85% in Gauteng aangeteken.

Die feit dat hierdie lede met hul spesialiteitsagtergrond en opleiding van internasionale standaarde nou opgedeel en herontplooi is na die Misdaadvoorkomings eenheid sonder enige konsultasie of vooraf kennis, is eenvoudig onaanvaarbaar! Die nuwe ASD sisteem kry volgens die raad amptelik die skuld, maar die DA glo ons is almal mislei deur die ANC aangesien daar geen aanduiding was dat hierdie eenheid sou sluit nie!

Hierdie eenheid sou ‘n projek in Junie geloods het om die heroien en dagga probleem by skole in Atteridgeville aan te spreek waar tot 20% (2 500) van die leerlinge reeds verslaaf is aan dwelms. As gevolg van ‘n tekort aan hulpbronne moes die projek gekanselleer word wat die skoolkinders genoop het om ‘n optog op 20 Junie te hou waar die Burgemeester teenwoordig was.

Ons sit met ‘n ernstige krisis wat nie geignoreer kan word nie. Meer skokkend egter is die ANC en Tshwane Metroraad se onvermoë om die nodige leiding en die nodige visie te gee.

Die raad het minder as twee maande gelede ‘n amendament van die DA goedgekeur dat die Metropolisie effektiewe dwelmtoetse moet aankoop en die sukses daarvan binne ses maande aan die raad rapporteer. Dit en die feit dat twee van die dwelmeenheid se lede so pas terug is van ‘n dwelmkursus wat die Franse regering aangebied het, wys dat die raad self nie behoorlike beplanning aan die dag lê nie!

Die DA kan nie toelaat dat hierdie divisie sy deure sluit as gevolg van onprofessionele bestuur nie en sal by hierdie maand se raadsvergadering ‘n mosie indien waarop ons gaan aandring op die heroopmaak van hierdie eenheid!

Raadslid Karen Meyer
DA Woordvoerder: Gemeenskapsveiligheid en Nooddienste
Tshwane Metroraad
Kontaknommer: 082 373 7662

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