DEATH FROM ABOVE: The hidden costs of cannabis prohibition

The cultivation of cannabis is illegal in South Africa. The South African Police in the course of their duties come find large areas of under cultivation in rural areas. The policy is one of cutting down small plantations and large plantations are sprayed with Roundup from the air.

In 2001 South Africa were kind enough to spray 108 hectares in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. (SAPS Statement) What good neighbours we are?!

In 2004 the US DEA donated a sixth Squirrel helicopter to the SAP taking the number of helicopters for spraying to 26 (SAPS Journal)


In 2005 "±170,5 hectares of cannabis fields, estimated at ± R119 300 million, were sprayed in the Eastern Cape." (SAPS Report) That would be right.. ±the area, ±the value...

"Police have destroyed dagga plantations worth almost R200-million..... In two weeks time, the dagga - grown in an area the size of 500 rugby fields - would have gone on sale.....Every year, farmers plant hundreds of hectares of cannabis, and every year police helicopters descend on the valleys to spray them with poison. Police are determined to cut the supply of the popular drug, which constitutes about 80% of all local drug-related cases. This is the third operation to take place this year (2006) - and two more are scheduled before the end of the year. In the latest mission, more than 260 hectares of dagga was sprayed and killed, and a further 4 tons of harvested cannabis was seized by ground troops." (SAP)

In the crime year 2007/8 the South African Police reported "1754,5 hectares cannabis fields sprayed in cannabis spray operations." (p.81 SAP Annual Report)

Year by year the numbers went 170 hectares, 260 hectares, 1745 hectares. Where will this stop?

The 2008/2009 SAP Annual Report states that 1275 hectares were sprayed in four operations in the year under review.

Dr Johan Minnaar of Groblerdal produced evidence of serious illnesses and disorders among his patients, where commercial farmers are spraying large amounts of agrochemicals on crops. Horrific cases include breasts on a five year old girl, teenage boys temporarily "growing breasts" during spraying seasons, miscarriages, partial facial paralysis, cancers and ear malfunctions. Milder poisoning symptoms, include asthma, sinusitis, headaches, dizziness and depression. (from Environment)

This led Professor Leslie London of the University of Cape Town to state: "premature puberty and other hormonal abnormalities are symptoms of contamination by pesticides containing endocrine disruptors. I think there is a view that if you choose to live in the country, you should accept this as a way of life."

The spokesperson in charge of these operations confirmed that the Roundup pamphlet informed him "that Roundup is as safe as table salt".

It's either sell drugs or starve: Cape moms

A group of Cape Flats women admit to selling drugs, but say they only do it to put food on the table.

They also claim their neighbours don't mind.

The family at Kapokblom Street in Lentegeur spoke out after cops raided their house for the umpteenth time last week.

Now they say they want to tell their side of the story.

Loretta Solomons, 39, says her brother-in-law Alfred Martin, who was arrested, has been selling ungah (heroin) from a Wendy house on her property for the past year.

"My husband used to sell ungah as well but I didn't approve of it so I framed him by showing police where he hid the stuff," says Loretta.

"At first I didn't know that he [Alfred] was selling drugs from here but I had a suspicion because there were always people coming here."

At first Loretta says she tried to stop Alfred, 40, but he refused.

"I was unhappy about the fact that he was selling drugs because I didn't want to put my children's lives at risk. I have a four-month-old baby and anything can happen to my family," she says.

But when times got tough, Loretta says she welcomed the drug money.

"He [Alfred] lost his job at a butchery in Hanover Park and we were struggling," she says.
"Most times we'd go to sleep with no food in the house and I also started selling drugs just to put food on the table - but we never sold tik."

But while Loretta gave up her drug business, she says Alfred has continued selling from the house he shares with his wife Jennifer Martin, 41, and one of their three kids.

Jennifer says she doesn't condone what her husband is doing but says without the money, her family would have nothing to eat.

"I don't support what he's doing, it's wrong but I tried to stop him and he won't," she says.

"We also don't have any other source of income and the money puts food on the table."

Jennifer says besides her three kids with Alfred, he also has other mouths to feed.

"Hy't 'n klomp los kinders wie hy na omsien en hy werk nie [He has lots of illegitimate kids he has to take care of and he doesn't work]," she says.

Both women admit that the money Alfred makes from selling drugs has helped keep both households running and say they are sick and tired of the constant police interference.

Jennifer says cops constantly raid their house.

"They come here without a search warrant, breaking off our doors and scaring our kids in the middle of the night," she complains.

"They've broken our ceiling, our door handles and our burglar gate."

Jennifer says cops even threatened her when they didn't find drugs on the property.

"If I knew where my husband hid his things, I'd show them because I don't agree with what he's doing," she says.

"But when I tell the police that I don't know where the drugs are, they never believe me."

Surprisingly, their neighbours don't mind that the family are running a drug den from the property.

Louise Petersen, 47, a former counsellor at Pollsmoor prison says the family is only trying to survive like everyone else on the Cape Flats.

"They're not bothering anyone so I don't mind that they sell drugs," she says.

"My children are all grown-up and none of them are on drugs.

"The police are always unruly when they come here, while these people are willing to cooperate with them."

Elisia Arendse, 31, who lives opposite the drug house, says Loretta and her family are "very nice people".

"They are nice and don't bother anyone, they also cause no trouble in the road so I don't mind," she says.

Mitchell's Plain police spokesperson Ian Williams says Alfred will appear in court on Monday.

"He was arrested and charged with possession of drugs and will be appearing in court," Williams says.

- Daily Voice

I sell weed for my mom, says girl

The Cape Flats' youngest drug dealer says she is peddling weed for her mother.

The 12-year-old girl appeared in court on Monday after she was caught by police with 81 dagga parcels hidden under her clothes on Friday night.

The girl spent the weekend in a place of safety, waiting to appear in the Athlone Magistrates' Court.

The child from Bhekela in Philippi-East told cops she sells dagga for her mother who is in the Eastern Cape.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Nondumiso Paul says the allegations are being looked into.

"We are investigating if that is true. The mother has not yet been informed about the arrest," she says.

Police nabbed the girl, who looks after her three siblings aged between nine and 14, after a tip-off from the community.

Cops became suspicious of the girl while she was standing against a wall as they were searching the room. - Daily Voice

Drug addicts using public libraries

A man who allegedly flashed a woman in a public library says he's innocent. (from IOL)

An embarrassed Moegamat Taurick Solomons, 34, contacted the Daily Voice on Friday after seeing his face splashed on the front page.

The Plumstead father of two says he had no idea his penis was on show and that the whole incident was simply a misunderstanding.

In a telephonic interview, Solomons admitted being high on Mandrax and tik but said he had simply forgot to zip up after going to the loo.
"I was on tik and mandrax that day," he says.

"I came across the library in a residential area and I spoke to the lady about how much it would cost to become a member.

"She told me it was R180."

According to court papers, Solomons went to the library where the 39-year-old woman works.
The librarian claims Solomons showed her his penis when she went to assist him.

But Solomons says he was innocently browsing religious books on Islam and Christianity when the woman kicked up a fuss and claimed he had flashed his penis.

"I was reading a book about Islam and Christianity and went to the toilet," he said.
"When I came back I was unaware that my zipper was down.

"I went back to my seat and stood up again and asked her a few questions... this was probably when the misunderstanding occurred."

Solomons said soon thereafter, he was politely asked to leave the library by a group of men.
"I didn't know why they asked me to go," he says.

Solomons said moments after that, police picked him up while he was strolling down Main Road, Wynberg.

Six-year-olds 'using tik'

Fourteen pupils at a primary school in Faure, some as young as six, have been identified as drug and alcohol users by education authorities.

The Cape Argus visited the school earlier this month after teachers raised concerns that pupils were smoking tik and dagga and drinking alcohol before class.

The teachers said the children's erratic behaviour and mood swings were making it increasingly difficult to deal with them.

The Western Cape Education Department has been in talks with its Safer Schools programme, as well as the school social worker, to decide on what needs to be done to address this problem.

An initial assessment by a social worker identified nine children who may be at risk.

The spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, Bronagh Casey, said the school was still being evaluated.

"We have made a preliminary assessment of the learners originally reported to the (department).

"A second group of learners have been identified since then. There are now 14 learners who are believed to be at risk. They are between the ages of six and 12 years," said Casey.

She said officials had met the pupils' parents.

At a meeting last week it was decided that "an intervention strategy" would focus on the pupils and their parents and include home visit, said Casey.

A teacher at the school said there were "clear signs" that the drug and alcohol problems started at home.

"It's fine to work with the kids, but you need to work with the parents as well," said the teacher.

Casey said: "The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca), Child Welfare and the police will also be involved."

She said police were investigating from whom the pupils bought drugs.

The principal, who has been in the post for 12 years, had earlier told the Cape Argus that her staff had repeatedly summoned parents to discuss their children's drug use, but "most of the parents (of these children) also (use drugs)".

- Cape Argus

'He had chains round his neck'

She knew he was a thieving druggie but identifying her grandson's corpse was the hardest thing this grandmother has ever had to do.

The teen's lifeless body was dumped on Monwabisi beach after he was allegedly abducted and killed for stealing in his area.

The lonely stretch of beach is a notorious dumping spot for corpses and cops regularly patrol the shore.

Harare police spokeswoman Nosiphiwo Mtengwane says a case of murder has been opened for Monde Malgas' murder and one suspect is already in custody.

"One suspect was arrested on charges of kidnapping and murder," says Mtengwane.

Monde's grandmother Miriam Malgas, 56, says a man came to their house in Makhaya, Khayelitsha, to look for Monde, 16, last week but the teen wasn't at home.

"He told me that a lady who lives in the area sent him to tell us Monde had stolen a DVD player and an amplifier from her house," she says.

The teen's devastated family admit he was a drug addict and had been involved in crime before.

Miriam says the most painful thing about losing her grandson is the fact that he was starting to mend his ways.

"He [Monde] did a lot of things wrong, but he was starting to change because he had even started going to church," she says.

The family says Monde was tortured by being strangled with a chain before he was eventually murdered and dumped on the beach on Thursday.

The teen's mother Linda Malgas, 35, says they aren't sure what exactly Monde died of.

"The woman denies sending someone to our house," says Linda.

"Witnesses say Monde was picked up and put in a car by three men and he had chains round his neck."

Linda says her son couldn't even explain himself because the chains were choking him.

Last year Niezaam Abrahams' burnt body and car were found at Monwabisi beach.

He had to be identified by his gold teeth.

- Daily Voice

Cop accuses boss of smoking dagga

A traffic officer has claimed his boss is a foul-mouthed and dagga-smoking bully.

The Cape Town cop admits he smoked dagga during a departmental function just so that he could curry favour with his superior.

But now the officer has come clean to the Daily Voice and wants to expose the drug abuse in an offical enquiry.

In a statement the officer, who works at the Hillstar Traffic Department, says his boss - whose
identity is known to the Daily Voice - is called "The Daggakop Skollie" (The Pothead Gangster) by colleagues.

The statement reads: "While at Langebaan last year in November, we were four traffic officers and two chief inspectors and I then noticed the Inspector preparing two 10cm long dagga cigarettes.

"The zol was passed around amongst us and out of the six officers, five smoked."

He says he felt pressured to go on on the trip and feared victimisation if he didn't.

"Initially I didn't want to go on this trip but the chief inspector warned us that if we didn't go 'we won't be in his plans'," says the officer.

"I was scared he would relocate me or victimise me like he had done with other officers.

"I regret that I participated in smoking dagga. I wanted to fit in and I needed the protection."

The officer says he will only reveal his identity at an official enquiry.

He also claims his superior uses profanity in meetings.

City Safety and Security Executive Director Richard Bosman confirms the matter is being investigated.

"We are treating the case seriously and if there is evidence that will prove misconduct, action in the form of a hearing will be taken against all the parties involved," he says. - Daily Mail

Police lose drugs and fail to stop "dealing"

The police's failure to protect samples and confiscated material stored at its forensics science laboratory in Pretoria had resulted in the theft of drugs worth an estimated R50m on the street, the DA said on Wednesday. (from News24))

MEMBERS of the police and the legal fraternity are up in arms because prominent drug dealers are walking free out of the courts. Magistrates in the regional and district courts are at loggerheads with each other due to this situation. (from the Paarl Post)

District Court Magistrates refuse to hear matters relating to drug dealers, as they are of the opinion that certain sections of the law do not give them the necessary jurisdiction to do so. The Chief Magistrate in Cape Town has advised the District Magistrates that it is possible for them to hear evidence and pass stringent sentences in these matters, however the magistrates still refuse to do so.

Instead they refer these cases to the Regional Court, where here too magistrates refuse to fill up their already backlogged case loads, maintaining that the District Court Magistrates can settle these matters.

A magistrate recently refused to hear the case of three prominent drug dealers who were found with drugs worth R96 000 in their possession.

The accused were prepared to plead guilty, but the magistrate instead transferred the matter to the Regional Court and the matter has now been postponed

And on 27 January, when an accused wanted to plead guilty after having been arrested with 96 kilograms of dagga in his possession, the District Magistrate again instructed that the case be transferred to the Regional Court.

These cases are often struck from the roll and drug dealers are then free to get back to business.

Drugs continue to flow into Cape Town...

A woman suspected of being a drug mule has been arrested for allegedly carrying drugs valued at about R1.6 million at the Cape Town International Airport, Western Cape police said on Thursday. (from IOL)

Inspector November Filander said the 26-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday after a tip-off that she would be flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town in the late afternoon.

On searching her luggage, police found 4.5kg of tik hidden in cereal boxes.

In another incident a man was caught for carrying drugs on a bus.

"Police were tipped off about a 25-year-old Somalian national travelling in a luxury bus from Beaufort West towards Bellville on the N1 freeway," Filander said.

Flying squad police pulled off the bus at a petrol station where they positively identified the man they were looking for and searched his suitcases.

An illegal drug kat, valued at R10 000, was found inside one of the suitcases.

These tip-offs. Who makes them? It's not the caring public... it's the competition!

Keeping drugs illegal leads to police corruption

Two Western Cape policemen were arrested on Thursday for alleged corruption related to drug dealing and the unlawful release of suspects, police said. (from IOL)

Superintendent Andre Traut said the two were attached to the province's crime fighting unit.

"A 30-year-old Grassy Park constable suspected of tipping drug lords off prior to envisaged operations in return for a payment, was arrested first.

"The Hawks then proceeded to arrest a Fish Hoek inspector, 38, who was arrested in connection with allegations of unauthorised release of suspects without processing the necessary documents," Traut said.

The two were charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

They will appear in the Simonstown Magistrate's Court on Friday.

England tackles it's drinking problems

England tackles it's drinking problems. Pub and club promotions that encourage binge drinking will be banned within months in a government retreat from its policy of liberalising licensing laws. (from the Timesonline)

Licensees face fines of up to £20,000 or up to six months in jail for offers such as “All you can drink for £10” or “Free drinks for women under 25”.

Today’s announcement of a tougher code of practice is an admission that reforms allowing 24-hour drinking have failed to produce what the former minister Hazel Blears described as a “continental café-bar culture”. Instead, ministers have acted amid rising public concern at the extent of public drunkenness and alcohol-fuelled disorder on the streets. Labour’s private polling has revealed that the issue is an increasing worry for voters.

Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, said: “Alcohol-related crime costs the UK billions of pounds every year and while the vast majority of retailers are responsible, a minority continue to run irresponsible promotions.”

Speed-drinking games and “dentist’s chairs” — where alcohol is poured directly into the mouths of customers — will also be banned.

Pubs and clubs will have to provide free tap water to customers and be required to ask for the identity of anyone who looks under 18.

The code will force licensed premises to offer wine in small 125ml glasses as well as the more common 250ml measure. The larger measures of wine have been blamed for increasing drunkenness among women. Pub and club owners will also have to offer small beer and spirit measures.

Ministers have, however, backed down from banning supermarket bulk buys, which have led police to complain that alcohol is being sold for less than bottled water. The mandatory code also avoids an outright end to “happy hours” where drinks are sold cheaply for a certain period of time. Instead, local authorities will have wider powers from the end of this month to impose a ban on happy hours in individual pubs.

Where do you get weed from in Cape Town in December: The Cop "Shop"

A police station commander has been arrested for stealing 18 bags of dagga from the evidence stores of her own station, and then using a police van to transport it to drug dealers, with the help of a constable who is on the run.

And in another case involving police officers, a constable has been arrested for attempted murder and armed robbery.

The Independent Complaints Directorate is investigating both cases, which took place in the Cape Peninsula.

Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk would not be drawn on the arrests, saying the cases had been transferred to the ICD.

The station commander, a 44-year-old female superintendent, was expected to appear in the Somerset West Magistrate's Court today on charges of theft, fraud, dealing in dagga and defeating the ends of justice.

She was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly stealing 18 large bags of dagga from the evidence stores, police spokesman André Traut said. - The Star

Cops root out Rasta garden

Cape Town police have confiscated the contents of a Rastafarian front garden that was grown for smoking rather than pretty flowers.

Inspector Nkosikho Mzuku, spokesman for the Ocean View station, said police were looking for a suspect in the area on Wednesday morning.

In an informal settlement that he described as a "Rasta camp", the police noticed dagga plants of varying sizes growing in flower beds around the front of one shack.

The plants were screened from a nearby road by a wooden fence.

Police removed a total of 750 plants, worth about R5 000, from the beds.

A woman and three men, aged between 36 and 42, were arrested and would appear in the Simonstown Magistrate's Court on Thursday, on charges of possessing dagga.

All four were Rastas, he said. - Sapa

SAB - who's guarding the hen house, who's watching the foxes?

A key component of SAB’s business is its logistics network and distribution capabilities. As a company committed to customer service, productivity and empowerment, SAB is one of only a few companies that can deliver its products to any area in South Africa within 24 hours of an order being placed. (from SAB)

The Owner-Driver programme was founded with the introduction of a pilot project in the Western Cape in 1987. Today, this project accounts for more than half of all SAB Ltd's deliveries through some 260 companies, operating more than 460 vehicles. Each of these businesses employs at least four people. As a result this R530-million per annum project has provided at least 2300 jobs and created 280 independent businesses. (from Financial Mail)

Using a network of 42 depots and 12 distributors, the company's products are distributed to about 25 000 points of sale across the country. More than half this distribution is done through independent distributors called owner-drivers.

It's estimated that there are 265 000 points of sale for beer in SA. Of these, SAB estimates that 74% are operating without a licence. Using Soweto as an example, SAB estimates that of 1 500 outlets, only 355 are licensed. Legally, SAB is prohibited from supplying these illegal outlets - shebeens - directly. To do so would be putting the company's licence to trade at risk.

To get beer to consumers in the townships, an entrepreneurial independent distribution network sprang up many years ago. SAB sells its products to legal retailers, and to a lesser extent to legal wholesalers, usually in rural areas. Wholesalers can sell to only licensed retail outlets. The independent retail distributors (IRDs) sell to shebeens. IRDs, or bootleggers, vary in size from one-man operations with a wheelbarrow to organised fleets of bakkies.

Who is ensuring that the owner drivers are playing by the rules and delivering only to licenced outlets? Apparently no one. Who is watching/stopping the illegal actions of the IRD's? No one. These folks are moving the bulk of SAB's product from the legal licenced sellers to the illegal and no one cares to do anything about it.

SAB produces 93% of the country's alcohol (down from 98% in 2007).

74% of shebeens are unlicenced.

82% of SAB's alcohol sold in illegal shebeens if permit-operating shebeens are included. (Only 18% is sold legally)

SAB’s liquor is bought from licensed wholesalers such as Makro or Trading Centres and liquor stores by individuals who buy in bulk to illegally trade it in shebeens.

The owner-drivers are responsible for the delivery of the liquor to licensed and permit-operating businesses countrywide. This market consists of licensed restaurants, wholesalers, liquor stores, taverns and shebeens with permits. Wholesalers and liquor stores sell liquor in large quantities to individuals. Some of these individuals operate illegal shebeens which actually retail 82% of SAB’s products. The Soweto depot supplies Soweto, Eldorado, Kliptown, Lolli and surrounding suburbs. These townships consume about 62 222 cases per day (twelve bottles in each case)

Licensed taverns and shebeens operating with permits are assisted by SAB to brand their enterprises, with names imprinted on the background of one of SAB’s alcohol beverages. For instance, SAB places a board outside each client’s enterprise, displaying the name of the shebeen or tavern on the background of one of SAB’s beers such as Carling Black Label or Castle Lager. These enterprises are also given fridges, chairs and other materials to facilitate their growth. By giving the taverners fridges, the quality of the product is assured and enhanced, as their liquor is served cold. The provision of chairs and glasses enhances the quality of the tavern or shebeen, as customers are able to enjoy their favourite beer sitting comfortably on chairs and drinking out of branded beer glasses. There are, however, conditions that come with SAB’s ‘free’ gifts. Taverners and shebeeners are told that the fridges are only to be used for SAB’s products. If any other company’s brand is found in the fridge, SAB will immediately confiscate the fridge. There are other rules attached to these fridges. They have to be packed according to a particular order. For example, a Black Label branded fridge should feature that beer on the top shelf, followed by other brands on the other shelves.

The shebeeners are assigned a sales representative by SAB, who teaches them how to pack the fridge and other business skills necessary for running a successful operation. The fridge has to be placed where customers can see the beers in the fridge. Thus, the fridge has to face the customer. These rules on how to display and pack the fridge have to do with the power of advertising.

The price of beer is recommended by South African Breweries. For instance, at the time of writing SAB’s recommended price for Black Label was R6.50. The taverners and shebeeners are not forced to sell the brand at this price. Most charge R7.00 to R7.50. SAB has created incentives for adopting the recommended beer prices and other recommendations drafted especially for taverns and shebeens. For instance, the provision of chairs, tablecloths and glasses is dependent on following SAB’s recommendations, including selling beer at the recommended price. (Making Visible the Invisible research for the Dept of Labour)

The government knows that the wholesalers are selling alcohol for illegal resale. SAB are providing a sales representative, training, the fridges, the tables, the chairs, the table cloths, the signage out the front, the glasses and the beer. Any wonder that there are 200000 illegal shebeens across the country? Is anyone watching? Does anyone care?

Rugby tackles drinking culture

In the past few weeks all 12 clubs in the top tier have put their players through Drink IQ, a programme that provides plenty of information to digest for all who drink, but especially for members of sports clubs. “Coming into the festive season, the time of partying and merriment, is a good time to reinforce the messages,” says Phil Winstanley. (from The TimesOnline)

The project is run by Diageo, the drinks manufacturer. Er, hang on. Is a producer of alcoholic drinks (including Guinness, which sponsors the league) really the best choice for the job of informing people about the dangers of drinking? Winstanley says that independent psychiatric consultants endorsed the scheme, which began as part of in-house training for Diageo employees but was then rolled out in Australia, most notably to the Wallabies, the national rugby team.