A member of the public phoned the Middelburg Observer this week, saying a woman was selling bags of white powder to “countless residents daily, in clear view of Future Achievers Academy learners”.

The concerned woman said that she drives past a parking area at the school, situated opposite the municipal licencing department, on a daily basis, and witnesses “bags filled with white powder being handed to motorists every time”.

She even dotted down the silver Opel’s licence plate number and supplied it to the Middelburg Observer.

The woman said she was bitterly concerned for the welfare of the learners who had to witness the drug peddling through a fence which borders the parking bays.

“This cannot be allowed to continue,” the woman stood firm, pleading with the Middelburg Observer to investigate the racket, and put an end to it.

On Wednesday the Middelburg Observer did just that.

On arrival the silver Opel was parked exactly where the complainant said it would be. The source said the car belonged to a “frowning woman, suspected to be Nigerian”.

The “Nigerian woman with a deep frown,” was however nowhere to be found when the Observer came knocking.

The Observer spoke to a couple of women nearby, busy taking ID photos in a Gazebo erected in the parking area.

The women said they all knew the owner of the car and one of them produced a cell phone, to dispatch the owner who apparently went to solicit business outside the licencing department.

Shortly after placing the call, Ms Tshkovhi Grace Tshilidzi, arrived at the parking area. She confirmed that the car belonged to her.

After revealing that she is being accused of selling drugs, Ms Tshilidzi broke into a fit of laughter.

“Who, me!? Who are these jealous people?” she demanded to know.

Upon hearing that eyewitnesses can testify to the fact that they see her handing over bags with white powder to motorists and pedestrians, Ms Tshilidzi produced one of the bags, filled to the brim with what appeared to be an unknown white content.

On closer inspection, the unknown white content of the bag, turned out to be the backside of two small ID photos.

Ms Tshilidzi agreed to open her car for the Observer who took a look inside, and found a compact printer and carrying bag, filled with back up batteries, memory cards and white glossy paper, on which the photos are printed.

During the Observer’s visit, a number of civilians arrived at the Gazebo for their photos to be taken.

After some discussion, Ms Tshilidzi conceded that, from afar, money and a small bag with white content exchanging hands, may indeed look like a drug deal in progress.

“I earn an honest living taking photos, two for R35 is a good deal, and the quality is good. We have many customers, and hope to attract many more,” Ms Tshilidzi said.

“I will never sell drugs,” she concluded.