A group of community members intends to chase foreign nationals, who are allegedly operating as drug lords, out of Jan Kempdorp by Tuesday next week.
A GROUP of community members intends to chase foreign nationals, who are allegedly operating as drug lords, out of Jan Kempdorp by Tuesday next week.
Community leader Lebogang Banyatsi said that they wanted all illegal immigrants to be “deported with immediate effect”.
“Over the past two months there has been an influx of foreign nationals who are peddling drugs in the Phokwane district,” said Banyatsi. “They are harassing community members and their families, including elderly grandmothers.
“If the runners smoke the drugs, instead of selling it and handing over the profits, they assault them and their relatives at their homes. We are also worried about human trafficking because we have seen foreign nationals lurking around taverns, where it is obvious that they are not there for their own entertainment. Many are living nice lives and are staying in expensive houses.”
Banyatsi added that they had handed over a memorandum to the Jan Kempdorp station commander and the Department of Home Affairs, requesting the assistance of the police in removing drug dealers from society.
“Drugs are wreaking havoc on the lives of children and youth and we need to take a stand against this crisis.
“The drug dealers must not relocate to Hartswater or Pampierstad, they must leave the country. We gave them seven days’ notice to vacate. If they don’t leave we will force them out, without the use of violence, that is why we have requested the assistance of the police. The Department of Home Affairs must deport any undocumented persons out of the country.”
Banyatsi stated that he had dropped off copies of the memorandums under the doors of the homes and shops of the alleged illegal immigrants.
“Many are living in expensive places and are enriching themselves from the drug trade while the community is suffering.”
Police spokesperson Captain Sergio Kock said that the police would be present to deal with any situation or “eventuality” in Jan Kempdorp related to the memorandum.
The regional manager of the Department of Home Affairs, Ricardo Abrams, said that he was not aware of the memorandum.
“We do not work on nationality but on a case-by-case basis. Anyone with information relating to undocumented persons should submit evidence to the department for investigation.”
