About twenty boys came knocking at councillor Jeanette Mahlangu’s door seeking help to escape the nyaope lifestyle.<\/p>\n
“Extension 3 is the worst area hit by nyaope in Mhluzi,” said Cllr. Mahlangu. She added that the crime rate is increasing each day and parents seem to have given up.<\/p>\n
She called in spiritual leaders to assist. Bishop Jabulane Bembe and Pastor Stanley Gumede are from eMalahleni and work at the Witbank Hospital on a similar project.<\/p>\n
Pastor Gumede is an ex drug addict himself.<\/p>\n
“I used to be a trouble maker,” said Pastor Gumede. He recalls when he stole his sister’s wedding ring to sell it for drugs.<\/p>\n
He got arrested shortly thereafter and that was when he decided to quit. As an ex user he believes there is hope for the young boys.<\/p>\n
The boys are counselled by the pastors. They pray together and read Bible scriptures.<\/p>\n
Bishop Bembe claims that they have had a lot of success with their counselling methods. “This method has a six out of ten success rate,” said Bishop Bembe.<\/p>\n
\u2022”I started doing nyaope to have fun but I later realized there is no way out,” said Jimmy Mahlangu, another one of the boys who seeked help.<\/p>\n
Jimmy also added that they have no respect for the community when under the influence of nyaope.<\/p>\n
They end up stealing and doing basically anything to get their hands on money to get more drugs.<\/p>\n
The boys all want out but it’s hard for them because the drugs are so easily availabile.<\/p>\n
Mandla, who has been smoking for more than ten years, has four children and would love to care for them and be a good father. Something that is virtually impossible whilst he is a slave to nyaope.<\/p>\n
Three of the boys had good paying jobs but have lost everything after just that one experimental pull .”Drugs are all over in Extension 3 and we’ve even smoked with police officers,” said Jimmy.<\/p>\n
“We need someone to come forward with the names of the police, where they smoke so we can take the matter further” said Captain Khanysile Zwane. She also added that there is no sufficient evidence to charge the police.<\/p>\n
The community must come forward and tip the station commander, they stay anonymous.<\/p>\n
Video of the boys talking about their experiences:<\/p>\n