Police to intensify fight against drug abuse in Tshwane

Friday, November 1, 2013

Pretoria - The Police will intensify their efforts to fight drug and substance abuse in Soshanguve and the surrounding area, says President Jacob Zuma.

“Drug abuse perpetuates crime … addicts commit more crimes, robberies, break-ins and so on to sustain their addictions.

“Due to the demand that is not subsiding, drug syndicates proliferate, infiltrating even law enforcement agencies. The police will need the support of communities to fight drugs and substance abuse in this area,” he said.

President Zuma was speaking during his annual address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) sitting, in Soshanguve, on Friday.

The President assured residents that operational crime fighting issues raised such as the challenges at Ga-Rankuwa Police station and the magistrate court, regarding the escape of detainees were being addressed.

He said towards the east in Kameeldrift, the police were intensifying their fight against crime, which also includes rhino poaching.

“Dube police station in Winterveldt will also improve patrols in the areas which have been identified as crime hot spots. My mentioning of these areas and issues demonstrates the power of the NCOP.

“It makes all of us to focus at community levels and deal with issues that affect people directly. We should continue working together to make our communities safe,” he said.

Accountability at local govt

Zuma said one of the things government needed to do better, was to improve accountability especially at a local level, adding that this matter had been raised during the outreach programme.

The code of conduct for councillors dictates that they should be accountable to local communities and report back at least quarterly to their constituencies on council matters and municipal performance.

President Zuma said the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lechesa Tsenoli, will work with the MECs in all provinces to intensify oversight and ensure that councilors fulfill their obligations to the communities through effective public engagements.

“I also wish to emphasise that it is the duty of all public office bearers to communicate with the public and not only councilors.

“Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MECs and Mayors are also supposed to meet the public regularly to report back on services and also to obtain feedback from citizens on how services are being delivered by officials in their departments,” he said.

Food insecurity 

President Zuma said another area that government and communities should work together on was to fight hunger. According to the Statistics SA report of 2011, approximately 12 million households are vulnerable to food insecurity, however, the National Development Plan (NDP), sets out various methods and targets to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment and eliminate inequality by 2030.

The NDP makes reference to a number of steps that will improve food security, including the expanded use of irrigation, security of land tenure, especially for women and youth, and the promotion of nutrition education.

Fetsa Tlala

Last week, Zuma launched the Fetsa Tlala food production programme in Kuruman aimed at eradicating hunger while promoting food security.

Two billion rand has been made available this financial year for farmer support programmes and 72% of it will be used for food production to support Fetsa Tlala.

The programme will be administered by the departments of agriculture in the provinces.  About 100 000 hectares of land will be put under production through these programmes. Zuma said he trusts that Fetsa Tlala will encourage the development of food gardens in all households. –SAnews.gov.za