drugs drug houses

Known drug houses outnumber schools in the Western Cape. Image: Freepik.

Known drug houses outnumber schools in Western Cape

The Western Cape has more drug houses than schools. The increase in drug dens poses a challenge for law enforcement and community safety.

drugs drug houses

Known drug houses outnumber schools in the Western Cape. Image: Freepik.

According to the latest crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year, the Western Cape is home to more drug houses than schools.

Number of known drug houses in the Western Cape increases

Police top brass revealed that 1819 known drug houses were in the province during a parliamentary question and answer session. The vast majority of them are concentrated in Cape Town, which has 1077, while 742 are in rural areas.

According to the Weekend Argus, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has 1449 schools.

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Western Cape Police and Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, said the increase in drug dens is alarming. “Previously, this number stood at 1 557 [in 2021], but this has escalated to 1 819,” he said.

 Allen’s spokesperson Gillion Bosman said the provincial government asked the Western Cape Police Ombudsman to investigate the matter when the 2021 figures came to light, and they are still awaiting the findings.

Bosman said drug houses are the most important source of income for gangs.

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‘People have this fear of standing up’

Fatima Osman, from the anti-drug and gangsterism group People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD), told eNCA the increase in drug houses had compelled communities to reach out to the group.

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“Our office gets many calls, and people are phoning us left, right and centre, but when we ask them to get a group together [and say] ‘we’ll come out,’ they say ‘no, no, can we [PAGAD] sort the drugs out.

“So, people have this fear of standing up. We get a lot of calls to come and help,” said Osman to the broadcaster.

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