On Monday morning, residents protested outside the house of a known drug dealer, demanding that law enforcement authorities at the Tweespruit Police Station, under which the area falls, must attend to the issue. One of the leaders at the forefront of the demonstration, Karel van Wyk, tells OFM News that the most recent arrest and subsequent release of the drug lord in question was the final straw for the community.

It's alleged the drug dealer was arrested in a raid held last week and was released two days later from police custody.

Free State police are yet to comment on the case but are in possession of a list of OFM News' questions on the matter.

The community is of the view that these drugs are at the center of a bigger network of criminal activity: stock theft, rape, and murder. At present, the situation in the area is calm. Police reportedly dispersed the angry crowd earlier in the morning. Seemingly, no arrests were made and no injuries were reported.

Van Wyk and other leaders will meet with police and members of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Tweespruit on Tuesday 5 October to chart a way forward on the matter.

OFM News