DA requests Crime Intelligence Division to brief Parliament on “killer ecstasy” drug intervention
29 March 2016
The DA expresses its condolences to the KwaMashu families of the four young people whose lives were prematurely cut short by the ingestion of the toxic “Mercedes” concoction that also left 34 school learners and 10 adults hospitalised.
Given the severity of this tragedy, the DA welcomes the investigation by the Crime Intelligence Division and will request that, upon completion of this investigation, they brief Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police on the findings and proposed interventions to mitigate the proliferation of this lethal drug.
The tragic loss of young lives continues to go unabated as the full extent of drug abuse in the country is unknown due to lack of a comprehensive study on the matter. However, it can be estimated that the number of drug addicts consists of 11% - 13% of the population, which translates to upwards of 7 million people, majority of which being youth. This is exacerbated by the scourge of unemployment which often makes young people susceptible to turning to crime and substance abuse.
Drug-related crimes over the last 10 years have increased by 217.7%, over the last five years by 97.9%, and since the dismantling of the specialised Narcotics Bureau in 2006, drug-related crime has increased by 178.9%, all of which makes glaringly apparent the urgent need for these units to be re-established, starting with priority policing clusters, as per Minister Nhleko’s SONA promise in February this year.
We need a firm commitment and timeline from Minister Nhleko on the resurrection of the promised Narcotics Enforcement Bureau. I have written to the Minister requesting this as a matter of urgency and have yet to receive a reply. This shows that neither he nor the ANC government are taking this grave drug problem in South Africa with the seriousness it deserves.
The DA will continue putting pressure on the Minister of Police to act hastily to ensure that no more young lives are wasted and lost to drugs and drug-related crimes.
Issued by Zakhele Mbhele, DA Shadown Minister of Police, 29 March 2016
