Highly addictive and potentially deadly, whoonga is a drug of choice for addicts who need a cheap, fast hit. Whoonga, also known as nyaope, is a lethal concoction of anti-retrovirals (ARVs), rat poison and soap powder and carries a price tag of about R20 per hit, which makes it affordable for addicts to purchase and whoonga addicts usually need more than one hit a day.
This highly addictive drug has crept into communities around Estcourt and is silently devouring users. Recently a man was found in possession of straws of whoonga and promptly arrested.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel TM Mabaso last Wednesday a police officer was buying airtime at a store in Harding Street when he noticed two males with a black bag sitting at a table in the shop.
“After the police officer completed his purchase, we went to chat to the two men and he noticed the man in possession of the bag was trying to hide it,” explained Lt Col Mabaso.
The officer asked the man to hand over the bag, which he did. After opening the bag, the officer found small straws of whoonga inside.
The suspect, identified as Mvelo Lushaba, was immediately arrested and detained at the Estcourt Police Station where he was charged for possession of an illegal substance.
