DELMAS – Hundreds of Victor Khanye Local Municipality residents marched to the Delmas police station to submit a Memorandum of Demand for the police to urgently act on the drug dealings in their community.
On Monday 24 February hundreds of Delmas community members, leaders of various organisations, NGOs, SANCO, PRET, ANC, EFF and leaders of churches including the Speaker of Victor Khanye Local Municipality marched to Delmas to submit a Memorandum of Understanding and a petition against drug dealing in VKLM.
The crowd which marched to the police station said they have had enough of some police officials allegedly involved in drug dealings whom they also demanded should be removed from the station immediately. The Memorandum which was addressed to MEC for Safety and Security in Mpumalanga Cynthia Tshabalala, Major General Kekana and Station Commander Colonel Msiza was signed by General Kekana and VKLM Mayor, Vusi Buda. The programme director Thabo Motau highlighted that the march was not a programme of certain individuals hence all the various organisation leaders were gathered in one place.
“There are many investigation officers that are known to this community, their names are known and probably even to the station they are known. And these allegations are serious Major General [Kekana]”, said Bishop Jacob Msipha who read out the Memorandum of Demand. “This is not a request; it is a demand from our community! These corrupt officials must leave our community in peace and all these drug lords, we will make sure that we close every gap and angle possible until they all leave our space! The foreign nationals who are documented for dealing with drugs must leave now and kiss this community goodbye. Phansi nge izidakamizwa phansi!” proclaimed Msipha.
The detailed memorandum also mentions the names of the community members who were killed due to drug-related cases. One crucial highlight of the Memorandum of demand is the opening of the rehabilitation centre and the building of a satellite police station in Botleng as the Delmas community has grown.
Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS Brigadier Leonard Hlathi responded to the allegations regarding the corrupt officials with the following, “According to information there were no cases opened against Delmas police officers in the past for dealing with drugs. Regarding the allegations made by the community regarding the drug dealing, it is just allegations. No proof or statements was given by anyone to substantiate the allegations. The allegations that were received by community members, were forwarded to the relevant formations within the police to assist in verifying the allegations against SAPS members. We are however calling on the community to work with the police with regards to tangible information that may lead to the arrest of members who are corrupt.
The Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has recently issued a statement warning security formations to deceit from corruption. Therefore, the management of the police in Mpumalanga takes the concerns of the community very seriously and most definitely will not hesitate to act against any criminal elements within the ranks of the police. Police stations belong to the community and the police who are working at these police stations should work with diligence,” said Hlathi.
