The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) warmly welcomes the successful operation by the Border Management Authority, law enforcement agencies and all security personnel involved in the arrest of suspects allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs worth approximately R1 billion into South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post from Malawi.
This is a major breakthrough in the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and the destruction of our communities by powerful criminal syndicates that operate across borders with devastating consequences for workers, the unemployed, youth and poor communities.
The scale of this seizure demonstrates both the seriousness of the drug crisis facing South Africa and the importance of strengthening border security and law enforcement capacity. Drugs are destroying families, fuelling violent crime, worsening gender-based violence, deepening substance abuse amongst young people, and contributing to social collapse in many working-class communities.
SAFTU commends the Border Management Authority and all law enforcement structures involved for demonstrating vigilance, professionalism and determination in intercepting this massive consignment before it reached our streets.
We call for the intensification and strengthening of these operations across all ports of entry, including border posts, harbours and airports. South Africa cannot allow itself to become a transit route or dumping ground for international criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal arms smuggling and other forms of organised crime.
SAFTU further calls for:
- Massive strengthening of the Border Management Authority through increased staffing, training, technology and intelligence capacity;
- Filling of all vacancies in policing, customs, immigration and related enforcement agencies;
- Stronger anti-corruption measures within border management and law enforcement institutions;
- Improved regional cooperation between Southern African states to combat transnational organised crime syndicates;
- Faster prosecution and harsher consequences for those involved in large-scale drug trafficking and corruption networks that facilitate these crimes.
All responsible states across the world invest heavily in border management and national security capacity. South Africa must do the same if we are serious about combating organised crime while also ensuring that migration processes are properly managed in a lawful, humane and orderly manner.
SAFTU reiterates that criminality must be confronted decisively irrespective of nationality. At the same time, the fight against crime must never be used to justify xenophobia, vigilantism or attacks on ordinary migrants and refugees.
The real enemy is organised criminal syndicates, corruption, state incapacity and the socio-economic crisis of unemployment, poverty and inequality that continues to create fertile ground for crime and desperation.
A statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU by the General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
For media inquiries, contact
National Spokesperson
Newton Masuku
newtonm@saftu.org.za
0661682157
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
