RISE Mzansi welcomes the news of a major drug bust in Groblersdal, Limpopo, which led to the seizure of more than R2-billion worth of chemicals used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs.
This follows two other drug busts: one which took place in Stillbaai, Western Cape, resulting in R252-million worth of drugs prevented from poisoning the country’s communities; and the second incident which saw 4-kilograms of cocaine intercepted at O.R Tambo International Airport.
These separate incidents give South Africans hope that we have a police service and Crime Intelligence Division that can and will work to among, other things, stop the flow of drugs, take illegals guns off the streets and reduce priority crimes.
These efforts by the SAPS affirm that crime intelligence can work effectively not only post the crime but also in major crime prevention. The sterling work of SAPS has ensured that these narcotics never see the streets, where millions of youth have been victims of substance abuse.
In the RISE Mzansi Freedom from Fear plan, we highlight the need to, inter alia, arrest drug dealers and rehabilitate drug users; and increase crime intelligence capacity.
RISE Mzansi applauds the women and men in blue for their commitment, their foresight and effective use of intelligence to make our communities safer and free from drugs. SAPS and communities can work jointly to expose criminals who now use South Africa as a haven for crime.
With representation in Parliament and an alternate seat in the Portfolio Committee on Police, RISE Mzansi will agitate for policing that protects people rather than politicians. The R4-billion budget allocated to Protection and Security Services, which includes VIP Protection and the Presidential Protection Service, must be redirected to Crime Intelligence, Visible Policing and Detective Services.
The primary role of the state is to keep people safe, therefore the people of South Africa can rest assured that RISE Mzansi will fight for this right.