Drug hell in Komani
Dealers, users hiding tik in babies’ nappies to evade police searches
DRUG abuse is on the rise in Komani with street dealers selling mandrax, tik and dagga to children.
While the problem is prevalent in most areas, Aloevale and Mlungisi seem to be among the worst hit.
An investigation by The Rep found that drug dealers and addicts are hiding drugs in nappies on babies to avoid police searches.
Aloevale Sector Crime Forum chairwoman Jean Symons said this week: “You will see a lot of mothers with their kids on their backs while the children have drugs inside their nappies as the police will not search children”.
The community was plagued by social ills such as drugs and crime.
“Drugs are the main problem here and these drug dealers are not being arrested. It is destroying our kids. There are boys who will steal and sell a TV set for one pill.”
The problem was exacerbated by hundreds of unemployed youth.
“There are young people who cannot work because they are hooked on these drugs. There are a lot of people selling drugs. We have children sitting at home with Grade 12 certificates.”
Parents are also involved in the selling. “Some sell drugs in front of their children. I have been living in Aloevale for 33 years so I see a lot of things going on here.”
Symons said crime was on the increase in the area. “A lot of people are robbed in the mornings and evenings by criminals wanting drug money. If these children were working, we would not have the problem of women being robbed.”
Parents were living in fear from addicted children.
“Some beat up their parents because they want money and some mothers borrow money from loan sharks because they are scared of their children.”
Children were getting involved from an early age.
She said, “They start by sniffing glue and then they move on to the hard drugs. Parents need to talk to their children. We have held meetings but some parents do not come because they know their children are involved”.
She has personally dealt with the horrors of drug abuse.
“I want to warn these children because my own son died from using drugs. They think it is nice but they do not know the after-effects.”
A former drug dealer, who identified himself as Rasta, said connections with the police meant they could continue with their dealings without any worry.
“We all have friends who are police, so many of the guys who are selling get away with it.
“I used to smoke and sell because drugs in Aloevale are easily accessible. People fear the drug dealers because they have connections with the cops.”
A drug user who wanted to remain anonymous, said anyone could become a dealer.
“We smoke a lot because there is a belief that tik makes you fresh. You can do anything after you have smoked it.”
An addict needed at least R100 a day to support the habit. “House breaking and robbing people is the only way to be able to have money to buy drugs.”
A police officer who wanted to remain anonymous, said children as young as five were using drugs in the Komani area. “People are under the impression that dagga is legal and that they can keep a certain amount without being charged. I am aware of one child who started sniffing glue from the age of five and he is now 10 and smoking dagga.” Stealing was the
only way to support the expensive habit. “His brothers and other known criminals use young children to break into vehicles and houses to steal. The spaza shops sell glue and this is a problem as the children can buy it.”
The officer said children often smoked before going to school.
“They are using dagga, mandrax and tik from the age of 13. If they attend school, they use the drug before school. During the day, they will need another fix and in the evening.”
These actions led to girls being raped. “Young girls, under the influence of drugs, are raped, sometimes without them knowing, sometimes several times by more than one boy.”
Another policeman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the Komani CBD was another hotspot.
“There are guys who pose as hawkers but they are dealing with drugs. It is hard to arrest them because they have good hiding spots in town.”
Sakhumzi Shenxane of Ezibeleni said most boys in the area started smoking dagga before it escalated to stronger drugs.
“They start off through peer pressure to smoke dagga and within a few years, they are hooked on tik and mandrax. The young people are roaming the streets and many end up using drugs as a way of escaping from reality.”
Westbourne resident Mandisa Stuurman said Komani had known dealers.
“Unfortunately everyone is minding their own business. “There are many people inside these closed houses with children who are battling with drug addiction, but we fear reporting the dealers because they are released within a few days.”
A member of the Victoria Park, Aloevale and New Rest Neighbourhood Watch said girls as young as 14 were involved in prostitution to support their addiction.
“Drugs have taken over in our communities to the extent that young girls are selling their bodies. During our patrols, we find girls coming out of older men’s houses. That is why theft is so prevalent, they want to buy drugs.”
Komani cluster commander Major- General Thembisile Patekile said people were arrested for drug dealing in Komani every week. Drugs were problematic all over and Komani was not immune – but the number of people being arrested was alarming.
He said dealing with the sellers was not solving the problem.
“Ideally we want to get to the manufacturers and suppliers because if we can close off those sources, we would have done a service to the community. The community must assist to identify the main suppliers. People can remain anonymous.”
Police were carrying out random patrols. “We do stop-and-search but there are places were you do not think there will be drugs. It is inhumane to hide drugs in babies' nappies. People must inform us – we cannot go around undressing children to get to drugs”, Patekile said.
The drug problem in Komani was part of organised crime.
He urged residents to report police officers suspected of working with dealers.
“We investigate our own members. Seven police members were recently arrested for corruption and they have been dismissed and are behind bars.”
They start by sniffing glue and then they move on to the hard drugs