Tafelsig has overtaken Manenberg as the area in the province with the highest drug consumption, says Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool. Speaking at the opening of the country's first public opiate detoxification unit at the Stikland Hospital yesterday, Rasool said the administration had identified the 10 worst drug areas. Tafelsig was in top position, followed by Manenberg. Other areas include Belhar, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Paarl. Tik was the drug of choice and the entry-level drug. "Tik leads to heroin (abuse). Over 18 000 people in the Western Cape are addicted to it. It is a frightening statistic. When tik cannot satisfy them any more, they move on to heroin." [continues 205 words]
Drug-related crimes in the Western Cape increased by 44.4% in the 2003/4 financial year, according to MEC for community safety Leonard Ramatlakane. But other crimes in the province had dropped. Ramatlakane said attempted murder had decreased by 25%. He expressed concern about the age at which youths are getting involved in drug-related crimes as children as young as 10 have been arrested for the possession of tik. Ramatlakane described the sharp rise in the number of arrests related to the dealing and distribution of drugs as "alarming". [continues 335 words]
