Women march against drugs, booze

A GROUP of women at Lüderitz, calling for firm action against drug trafficking, took to the streets on Saturday to protest against increasing violence at the southern harbour town, which they believe is caused by drug and alcohol abuse.

Saturday’s protest march was triggered by the recent brutal rape of a four-year-old child at the town.A 40-year-old man, Willem Laberloth, was charged with the rape last week. He was denied bail in the Lüderitz Magistrate’s Court and is set to appear in court again on May 11.In a petition handed to over to a clerk of the court, the protestors said there is a need for visible, firm and co-ordinated action to fight drug and alcohol abuse. They were waving placards reading ‘drug dealers stop killing our people’.’It is with great concern and fear in our hearts that we have unite as mothers, sisters and most importantly as Christians of this town to start awareness on the evils in and among our husbands, brothers, sons and daughters,’ the petition stated. They called on the Ministry of Justice to impose harsher sentences on drug traffickers.They also called for tighter bail conditions.’Someone who contravenes the fundamental rights of others must not deserve to claim whatsoever rights,’ the petition reads. The protestors also want the speedy finalisation of criminal cases such as murder and rape to spare crime victims the trauma they experience during the trial process. The protestors further demanded that the Police should strictly enforce shebeen trading hours.’All shebeens must close at 24h00,’ the petition states. The protestors said crime is a threat to peace, security and stability, therefore sooner or later crime victims and their relatives would be forced to take the law into their own hands if drastic action is not taken to stamp out the drug and alcohol abuse that is fuelling crime in the country.