A civil society group, Abahlali Baahi, marched to the Nigerian High Commission in Tshwane on Wednesday calling on the Nigerian government to work with South Africa to root out criminality and assist trace Nigerian international drug kingpins.
The group said drug trafficking is affecting large communities in South Africa countries, especially in schools.
The group chairperson, Thabang Makhele is demanding that authorities assist with fighting drug trafficking in the country and to take urgent steps to cooperate with South African authorities in identifying Nigerian drug dealers operating locally.
“Our Demands to the Nigerian High Commission to take concrete and urgent steps to monitor and trace international Nigerian drug kingpins operating between the two countries and to destroy their networks and facilities, ” said Makhele.
A representative of the Nigerian HIgh Commissioner MC Ukason said the Nigerian government is committed to working with South Africa to tackle drug trafficking.
“I want to welcome all of you to this gathering. We are with you is the message I want to give to you. We have noted your concern. We have never received these concerns. Now that you have made these concerns vocal we are going to work with you because the truth is that drugs don’t do anybody any good.
“Even if I don’t take it (drugs) and somebody by my side takes it, it will affect me. It is for that reason that everybody must join hands to tackle the issue of drugs so that we will have a drug free society.
“So we have noted the concerns and upon the receipt of your memorandum of action, we are going to transmit it to the High Commissioner because currently he is away in Cape Town at the State of the Nation Address.”
