3 days left to make submissions to Ombudsman

Three days left to make submissions to Ombudsman into why SAPS is failing to close drug houses

Residents of the Western Cape have 3 days left to make their submissions to the Western Cape Provincial Police Ombudsman, Oswald Reddy, on police inefficiencies as it relates to SAPS’ failure to combat the operation of drug houses in the province. In April, the Ombudsman published a notice in the Provincial Gazette announcing an investigation into these inefficiencies.

Submissions can be sent via email to ombudsman@wcpo.gov.za before 20 May 2022.

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, says: “I’d like to firstly thank all those that have already made submissions. This information will assist us in uncovering why SAPS is unable to prevent these illicit activities from destroying our communities. This investigation is very important, and I’d like to encourage those that have not yet made submissions to urgently do so, as their contributions will go a long way in eradicating this evil from our society.”

In June 2021, SAPS confirmed that there were 1 577 drug houses operating in the Western Cape. Of these, 53% are situated in the Metro. The prevalence of illicit drug trade in the province, and the rest of South Africa, further threatens the cohesion of communities – particularly those facing many socio-economic difficulties.

The Ombudsman’s investigation is based on determining the reasons for the police not being able to:

• Address the manufacturing and supply of illegal substances, in addition to the use, possession and dealing thereof; and
• Terminate the operation of these premises.

Minister Allen added: “We acknowledge that SAPS in our province is grossly under-resourced, due to a failure of national government to adequately deploy the required resources to our province. The boots on the ground are doing their best to combat crime. It is however our Constitutional oversight responsibility to hold SAPS accountable where they might not effectively protect our people, and this is one mechanism that we’re utilising, so that we’re all better placed to ensure that drug houses are immediately closed down.”