KUTLWANO OLIFANT
OVER the past six years, Jabulani Cebekhulu has witnessed crime in his White City Jabavu neighbourhood, but it is the teenagers arrested daily in possession of a drug called nyaope who worry him the most.
Cebekhulu, a member of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in the area, said many of those arrested were as young as 15. His major concern was that when the drug users were arrested, the courts discharged them. It was frustrating.
“I believe they have a bright future ahead, but nyaope is ruining they lives,” Cebekhulu said yesterday.
“They smoke freely in their shacks or their homes. They do not have any supervision from elders because most stay by themselves. Nyaope is a serious problem in the area. We (CPF members) are trying our best to fight against the drug, but it is not easy.”
Once these children got high on nyaope, they committed crimes, breaking into houses and stealing anything they could sell to satisfy their habit.
“They don’t care. All they need is something to sell to people… to get the drug. But once we find them, we call the police immediately. But a few days later we see them again in the streets,” he said.
Cebekhulu
was meeting all the addicts in the area and education them about the dangers of drugs. He told The Star that it pained him to see young boys suffering from stomach cramps when they are craving.
“I have seen what this drug has done to most of them. Some have died and some are in a terrible state, which pains me.”
According to Clara Monnakgotla, a community development manager at the SA National Council On Alcoholism And Drugs (Sanca) in Soweto, 65 new admissions were registered in March, with most being under the age of 35.
“Most of them are teenagers and found positive in either heroin (one of the ingredients with nyaope) or dagga. They are referred to us by parents or the community members.”
Monnakgotla said nyaope was the main drug smoked in Soweto.
“Most of these children smoke the drug, which is mixed with substances such as heroin. They are not even aware what they smoke because they buy it thinking it’s dagga,” she said.
She advised parents to monitor their children.
“They should communicate with them and educate them about drugs,” she said.
Sanca can be reached at 011 984 4017 / 4290 / 1621.