Sophiatown residents are still suffering the scourge of drugs, despite the efforts of the provincial Drug Watch initiative launched just over a year ago.

Just last week the Sophiatown Police station reported receiving about sixty cases a day, the majority of which are drug related.

During an oversight visit to the police station with Gauteng community safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and the provincial legislature’s community safety committee, provincial police commissioner Lesetja Mothiba admitted that the SAPS had not been able to crack down on kingpin suppliers in the province. He also highlighted the involvement of police officials with drug lords.

It is becoming increasingly clear that drug related crimes and high unemployment rates continue to plague the poverty stricken community of Sophiatown, and premier David Makhura must now provide the leadership and direction promised in his State of the Province Address.

While the DA welcomes the efforts already put in place, premier Makhura and MEC Nkosi-Malobane must call for the re-establishment of a specialised narcotics unit to combat this scourge on our communities.

To this end, the DA will submit questions for oral reply to the MEC asking her to explain government’s plan of action in the war on drugs, and calling for the deployment of a specialised narcotics unit to drug hot-spots.

The DA will continue to strive to safeguard our communities.