INLSA
KZN Premier Zweli Mkhize, speaking at the official provincial Heritage Day celebrations held at the Westcliff Grounds in Chatsworth, south of Durban yesterday.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize has said the province was determined to bring down Chatsworth’s high drug crime statistics.
Coming on the back of crime statistics released last week, Mkhize said crime was the country’s biggest threat to social cohesion.
Speaking at provincial Heritage Day celebrations yesterday, he said there was a strong link between drug abuse and other criminal activities, particularly in Chatsworth.
According to the statistics released last week, there were 1 294 drug-related crimes in Chatsworth between April 1 last year and March 31 this year, the third-highest number of drug-related crimes in the province, after Durban Central and Point police stations.
The statistics showed that the number of drug crimes in the area had gone up by 22 percent from the previous year.
Mkhize said a crime summit would be held in Chatsworth soon, with its focus being drug trafficking and the prevention of substance abuse. He also said that a provincial team would be set up to tackle the problem.
“As the government we shall soon embark on a drive to fight drug proliferation, especially notorious drugs such as whoonga. The team will be focusing on the rehabilitation of addicts and the intensification of law enforcement.”
Mkhize said the province would be in discussions with the municipality regarding the possible construction of a drug rehabilitation facility in Chatsworth.
In a recent interview with The Mercury, Sam Pillay, director of an anti-drug forum in Durban, said Chatsworth drug users mostly used dagga and heroin.
Pillay said sugars, a concoction that included heroin, cocaine and other substances, were “notorious” in the area, as was rock cocaine.
Also, he said, drug users in black townships were hooked on whoonga, which had ingredients similar to those found in sugars.
Pillay said users turned to other crimes to feed their habit.
“The unemployed will steal to buy their drugs. They first steal from their own homes and pawn things, first small and then large. When there is nothing left, they move on to their neighbours’ houses and then on to shoplifting. They are even selling scrap metal and plastic.”
Commenting on shoddy Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses, Mkhize said it could not be “business as usual” in this sector.
There have been a number of complaints from Chats-worth residents about cracked walls and poor wiring.
“The government will never tolerate poor workmanship. The issue of… poor quality of RDP houses in Welbedacht is receiving attention.”
The provincial government wanted to build a database of housing contractors and consultants so that their work could be monitored.
