In recent months we became aware of an amazing man who helps folks get their property back from the SAPS after unconstitutional arrests. According to the police directive they have to return your property if you are not charged, but the police seldom follow the law and very few folks have the money to take on the cops. As we can see here, a little bit of diplomacy goes a long way and sometimes kind words can achieve more than legal muscle.

One of our affiliates, Marylou from Cannabizart sent us this report on the good work Ras Maxi does for the community. Just a few days ago Ras Maxi managed to get a whole room full of grow equipment returned after Fields of Green for ALL put an arrest victim in touch with the elder.

Ras Maxi Melville, leader of Rastafarians in Garden Route and Klein Karoo is well known in Knysna. Knysna was originally 2 towns and the name of one of them, was Melville. So that’s how long his family has been in Knysna. Forever. Maxi lives in Judah Square, a large Rastafari community situated in a small valley in Khayalethu South, a suburb of Knysna, a town in South Africa.
Knysna has notoriously ruthless police that continuously exploit easy to target communities like Judah Square, and they love using Dagga as an excuse to waste time with unlawful arrests.

Maxi is an amazingly active activist and an inspirational leader. Somehow he is able to appeal to the kinder reasonable side of law enforcement.  He talks always of unity and cooperation. At every protest he is a commanding figure in colorful striking traditional clothes and he will give excellent speeches at police stations and appeal for calm and peace.

Lately he has been able to help people get their confiscated ganja (and grow equipment too) returned after the magistrate throws ganja cases out of court. Normally people would never expect to see their wrongfully confiscated possessions returned… but Ras Maxi Melville is a superman of civil society. He helps anyone he can. I nominate him as Garden Route and Klein Karoo’s ♥ top activist for Cannabis justice.

We need more kind people like Ras Maxi and more friendly police officers that shy away from Dagga arrests. We caught up with Ras Maxi recently in the video interview below.