Cape Town - A 52-year-old woman and her 27-year-old son have been caught red-handed after they hid R20 000 worth of drugs inside a toilet in their Manenberg home.
Police have spread a message to the community not to use poverty as an excuse to turn to illegal activity.
Police visited the family’s premises on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off drug dealing was taking place at the house in Corrie Court.
Once inside, police found the drugs in the possession of the son and a further search led police to the toilet where they found an array of drugs hidden in the toilet.
The drugs include five packets of tik, 80 mandrax tablets which were found in the son’s possession, and inside the toilet they discovered 72 packets of tik, 230 mandrax tablets and a large amount of uncut cocaine.
Manenberg police spokesperson, Captain Ian Bennett said: “Gangsterism and drugs is a scourge, but when families get involved with destroying our community through drug dealing, then our community's moral fibre has been totally obliterated.
“The community depends on the family unit to create a sense of spiritual conscience, cohesion and a safe environment.”
Manenberg station commander, Brigadier Sanele Zama warned the community not to criminalise themselves by involving themselves in criminal activity.
“This is a turning point in crime and crime within the Manenberg policing precinct. The scourge of drugs and gangs has reached deeper into the communities core.
“It is sad that families have been sold out by other families.
“You cannot begin to use poverty as an excuse to sell drugs.
“One mother cannot use another mother's tears to put food on the table,” Zama said.
Bennett said the duo were expected to make an appearance in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court today.
“We need families to guard the moral fibres of our community to sustain law and order in the precinct,” Bennett added.
Anyone with information regarding drug dealing can contact Manenberg SAPS 0216999400 or crime stop 0860010111.