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I shall be sharing my thoughts on the involvement of South Africans in drugs in South Africa, and other parts of the world.
I must warn upfront that the things I am going to share, are by no means triggered by hatred, but the need to set the record straight.
I must warn upfront that the things I am going to share, are by no means triggered by hatred, but the need to set the record straight.
You will discover that despite the involvement of South Africans living abroad in crimes (including drugs), their host country never labeled the 'whole' of South Africans 'criminals, neither did they resort to 'killing' them. The instrument of the law was invoked to address it.
We are agreed that South Africa has been warmly welcomed into the international community (of which Nigeria played a role) and is, in turn,
open to the world. The benefits of this recently achieved status include increased investor
interest, more tourism et al.
open to the world. The benefits of this recently achieved status include increased investor
interest, more tourism et al.
The growing presence of illicit
drugs in SA is indirectly a result of the dramatic increase in the number of international flights to the country, sheer laziness on the part of the locals, refusal to embrace education by the locals, refusal to work and, the love for crime.
drugs in SA is indirectly a result of the dramatic increase in the number of international flights to the country, sheer laziness on the part of the locals, refusal to embrace education by the locals, refusal to work and, the love for crime.
It is in the character of the average South African to be a lover of violence, crude and crime. There was a time a study of attitudes, towards alcohol and drug abuse in an urban black community in
KwaZulu-Natal showed how the average South African loved drug trafficking.
KwaZulu-Natal showed how the average South African loved drug trafficking.
In the 14 February 1997 issue of the New Nation, Jennifer Wild, an
advocate based in KwaZulu-Natal, reported that "[k]ey elements in the South African military,
police, and foreign affairs department of the apartheid regime have created an organised
crime syndicate....
advocate based in KwaZulu-Natal, reported that "[k]ey elements in the South African military,
police, and foreign affairs department of the apartheid regime have created an organised
crime syndicate....
When it comes to drug trafficking in SA, South Africans are major stakeholders in the crime and drug syndicate. In Cape Town, police corruption is of major proportion, and it is believed that some of this corruption has stymied the success of some of their
investigations.
investigations.
Even in the South African police system, is being manned by drug dealers; they have infiltrated SAPS ranks and government institutions, and are currently assisting the international organised crime syndicates and trafficking cartels by providing legal documents and permits.
It is common knowledge amongst South Africans, that there is gross dissatisfaction about the [legal] system operating in South Africa. It has nothing to do with Nigerians living in South Africa.
Therefore, South Africa has a very weak policing System.
Therefore, South Africa has a very weak policing System.
In July 1996, Assistant Commissioner C J D Venter of SAPS estimated that, there
were 136 drug syndicates, 112 vehicle-related syndicates, 85 commercial/fraud rackets, and
171 diamond and gold-related syndicates in South Africa.
These syndicates are all South African owned!
were 136 drug syndicates, 112 vehicle-related syndicates, 85 commercial/fraud rackets, and
171 diamond and gold-related syndicates in South Africa.
These syndicates are all South African owned!
South Africa emerged as a major transhipment point for trafficking in the early 1990s after the
transition to democracy ended international isolation. Cocaine from Latin America transits
through to Europe, and heroin from the Far East passes through South Africa on to Europe
transition to democracy ended international isolation. Cocaine from Latin America transits
through to Europe, and heroin from the Far East passes through South Africa on to Europe
and the US.45 During the political transition in the country, Chinese triads saw South Africa as
'virgin' territory and came to exploit it.
'virgin' territory and came to exploit it.
According to SAPS Colonel Raymond Dowd, the
triads specialise in smuggling abalone, drugs, prostitution, credit card fraud, extortion, ivory
smuggling, the importation of illegal immigrants and import/export tax evasion.
triads specialise in smuggling abalone, drugs, prostitution, credit card fraud, extortion, ivory
smuggling, the importation of illegal immigrants and import/export tax evasion.
South Africa, along with Namibia, Kenya, Swaziland, Angola, Tanzania and Uganda are now
on the major cocaine trafficking routes.
on the major cocaine trafficking routes.
The majority of Nigerians in South Africa are there legally and, not involved in the illicit drug
trade, but as a result of a few, the Nigerian community is wrongly seen as the source of the drug problem.
trade, but as a result of a few, the Nigerian community is wrongly seen as the source of the drug problem.
Accepting that the Nigerians are currently less than welcome in South Africa, an interesting
evolution in the South African illicit drug dealing market can be hypothesised.
evolution in the South African illicit drug dealing market can be hypothesised.
The Nigerian (drug) dealers cannot readily approach an SAPS officer with the aim of
corrupting him or her, but a fellow South African possibly, known to the officer, may have a much better chance. This is what most South Africans have failed to see.
corrupting him or her, but a fellow South African possibly, known to the officer, may have a much better chance. This is what most South Africans have failed to see.
South Africans who are successfully working as couriers use their
knowledge to facilitate trafficking activities. This is a fact. And Nigerians have nothing to do with this.
knowledge to facilitate trafficking activities. This is a fact. And Nigerians have nothing to do with this.
The use of drugs, known as dagga in
South Africa, dates back to the 15th century
AD. Arab as well as Persian and Indian
merchants are reported to have been
responsible for its spread along the eastern
coast of the African continent in the 13th
century.
South Africa, dates back to the 15th century
AD. Arab as well as Persian and Indian
merchants are reported to have been
responsible for its spread along the eastern
coast of the African continent in the 13th
century.
By the 15th century, Swahili
merchants in East Africa and some Bantu
tribes in Central and Southern Africa co-operated in bringing the plant to Southern
Africa where it was later also cultivated. Cannabis gained in popularity in the 18th and
19th century (OGD 1996a).
merchants in East Africa and some Bantu
tribes in Central and Southern Africa co-operated in bringing the plant to Southern
Africa where it was later also cultivated. Cannabis gained in popularity in the 18th and
19th century (OGD 1996a).
In 1928,
authorities in South Africa introduced the first
drug legislation concerning cannabis. Historically, the controlled use and
consumption of cannabis among the African
population was ubiquitous throughout
Southern Africa.
authorities in South Africa introduced the first
drug legislation concerning cannabis. Historically, the controlled use and
consumption of cannabis among the African
population was ubiquitous throughout
Southern Africa.
Cannabis
was an integral part of the culture of traditional communities. Strict rules and values governed the circumstances under which it could be
used. Availability was usually controlled by
tribal elders.
was an integral part of the culture of traditional communities. Strict rules and values governed the circumstances under which it could be
used. Availability was usually controlled by
tribal elders.
However, in the context of a modernising, increasingly urbanized society,
where traditional community controls are
breaking down, the use of cannabis has now
become the domain of the younger user and
the poly-drug user.
where traditional community controls are
breaking down, the use of cannabis has now
become the domain of the younger user and
the poly-drug user.
In South Africa, cannabis
use is now often associated with alcohol and
mandrax use. Over the past few decades
cannabis use has also gained in popularity
among all ethnic groups.
use is now often associated with alcohol and
mandrax use. Over the past few decades
cannabis use has also gained in popularity
among all ethnic groups.
In the latest incident, 29-year-old Deon Cornelius, a South African, who was
arrested for drug smuggling in Malaysia two years ago, lost his
appeal against his death penalty conviction.
arrested for drug smuggling in Malaysia two years ago, lost his
appeal against his death penalty conviction.
He was
arrested after he was found in possession of a laptop bag containing 2kg of methamphetamine when he landed at Penang
International Airport on October 4, 2013. Cornelius claimed to have
been handed the bag by a man in Penang.
arrested after he was found in possession of a laptop bag containing 2kg of methamphetamine when he landed at Penang
International Airport on October 4, 2013. Cornelius claimed to have
been handed the bag by a man in Penang.
A South African woman, was arrested in India on suspicion of drug trafficking last
month. She allegedly claimed to be seven months pregnant but
officials found that her bulging stomach was not because of a
baby but due to cocaine capsules, weighing almost a kilogram....
month. She allegedly claimed to be seven months pregnant but
officials found that her bulging stomach was not because of a
baby but due to cocaine capsules, weighing almost a kilogram....
which she had swallowed. It was unclear what had since happened
with her case.
Foreign media reports that a South African was among three
people who were arrested at the Tbilisi International Airport for
allegedly bringing large quantities of drugs into Georgia.
with her case.
Foreign media reports that a South African was among three
people who were arrested at the Tbilisi International Airport for
allegedly bringing large quantities of drugs into Georgia.
The group
was alleged to have been caught with 4kg of cocaine and 14kg of
marijuana. This had been the second South African to be arrested
at the same airport for drug smuggling within a number of days.
was alleged to have been caught with 4kg of cocaine and 14kg of
marijuana. This had been the second South African to be arrested
at the same airport for drug smuggling within a number of days.
Also in September, Kenyan media reported that a South African
woman was caught with cocaine weighing almost 4kg in a
hidden compartment in her suitcase. The woman's passport
revealed that she had travelled from Sao Paolo, Brazil & flew to
Addis Ababa before connecting to Nairobi
woman was caught with cocaine weighing almost 4kg in a
hidden compartment in her suitcase. The woman's passport
revealed that she had travelled from Sao Paolo, Brazil & flew to
Addis Ababa before connecting to Nairobi
South African police officer, Sergeant Busisiwe Zungu was
arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly trafficking
drugs. It was unclear what type of drugs she had been caught with
but it was understood that she had since been released and had
returned to South Africa.
arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly trafficking
drugs. It was unclear what type of drugs she had been caught with
but it was understood that she had since been released and had
returned to South Africa.
South Africans living in Hong King were not demonised. They were not killed. The Government of Hong Kong only set its law to motion.
In 2011, Janice Bronwyn Linden, who had been caught in
possession of drugs in China, was executed. The 35-year-old had
been arrested in 2008 and was found in possession of 3kg of
crystal methamphetamine (tik) in her luggage. She was convicted
of drug smuggling in 2009.
possession of drugs in China, was executed. The 35-year-old had
been arrested in 2008 and was found in possession of 3kg of
crystal methamphetamine (tik) in her luggage. She was convicted
of drug smuggling in 2009.
The problem of South Africa is one of years of neglect, effect of apartheid, laziness, frustration as a result of poor and/or inefficient Government, and long years of drug abuse.
A country where citizens take laws into their hands to address issues, is a failed one.
A country where citizens take laws into their hands to address issues, is a failed one.
