The Afrikaans adage “Jaa, Nee.” which denotes frustration is an apt maxim to describe the maelstrom that has hit Cape Town. Once again senior politicians accuse each other of conspiring with criminals.
That narcotic traders and addicts continue to increase has bred suspicion that politicians are colluding with organised crime. When those who oppose crime end up in jail and criminals remain free, mistrust is endorsed. Since many narcotic dealers across the Cape Flats have been trading for decades, common sense suggests that they operated above the law.
Recently I asked a DA Councillor why the DA was unable to end the drug trade. He said that the DA did not regulate the judicial or the police structure which is ANC controlled departments. An ANC member suggested that, the increase in crime and addiction was the DA’s inability and reluctance to generate work for needy people. This causes poverty and encourages negative social outcome.
While both replies seem logical the question remains unanswered.
Some time ago Ray Eberlein representing the Central Drug Authority gave a presentation to Parliaments portfolio committee on women, youth, children and people with disabilities. Eberlein established that the 250 000 drug addicts and the 2 million problem drinkers are costing South Africa about R88 billion annually. He suggested that “our long term strategy is to change the culture in communities where drunkenness and drug use is acceptable”. Eberlein ended with “the drug trade is the second biggest business in the world, second only to the arms trade. The people who run drugs are relentless; they make money out of misery. They will do anything to make people use their drugs”.
I reason that both governing parties enjoy the idea of authority but in reality do not care enough to use this power to benefit ordinary people. Like most politicians who crave power, those in leadership often lack the required intellect and skills to do what is necessary. This is one reason why I advocated criminalizing drug addiction. I consider that since political leaders for various reasons lack the will to jail narcotic traders and end the criminality. By restricting the addict’s movement, 50% of the problem may be solved.
I consider that, the surge in addicts is probably tolerated in order to instil fear within citizens. Example, the United State elite endlessly generates the Islamic threat to manipulate global panic. In Cape Town politicians use criminals to produce fear. They know that it is easy to control people thru fear, since fear is a dominant human emotion. Therefore spending more money to manage crime is a waste. Quality above quantity suggests better paid, resourced and committed police staff and doing more with less. A weekly quota for arrests is a starting point and those unable to do the work must retire.
Locals must also know that politicians and criminals have a lot in common. Both love easy money, both survive on the misery of others, both lack a conscience and both will do anything to secure authority.
Locals should therefore consider the antics of Plato and Ozinsky similar to that of actors in a drama. They are both eager to win at the Oscar Awards which in their case is the provincial elections. For many years both of them quietly collected millions in salary, suddenly as the election draws nearer they assume centre stage. Like actors both have to earn their keep by engaging the voter. In the end, little will come of their posturing as both have little interest in solving our social evils.
If half of the accusations are true, what the governing parties {DA and ANC} should know is that they have shaken public confidence in them, to the core. South Africans deserve better.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress