Residents of Groot Aub and the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) have expressed concern at the rate at which crime is escalating at the settlement.

They expressed their fears of crime during a visit by Nampa to the Windhoek Rural Constituency yesterday.

“There is a lot of drug and alcohol abuse in Groot Aub. Our children face a bleak future because of substance abuse, this is a big disease within my community and it needs attention,” resident Maria Bantam told Nampa.

“The young people have nothing to do – they spend the whole day smoking hubbly and other drugs which are supplied by people known within the community,” she added.

Her views were echoed by another resident who declined to be named, saying the number of small livestock theft is scary as the youths steal goats and sheep to sell at low prices to buy drugs.

“We are experiencing a rise in housebreakings as a result of unemployment. Community members protect these criminals and drug dealers; they never report them to the police. Because of these vices, most parents are afraid of their children,” she said.

Windhoek Rural Constituency Councillor Piet Adams of the Landless People’s Movement, concurred with the residents saying it is high time the community members and law enforcement agencies worked together to fight crime.

Contacted for comment, NamPol Head of Operations in the Khomas Region, Deputy Commissioner Gerald Klazen confirmed to Nampa that housebreaking and stock theft are becoming a serious concern for the police and Groot Aub community.

(NAMPA)

Source: The Namibian Press Agency