Local drug lords rope in teens as peddlers

A drug syndicate operating in Polokwane and Seshego is threatening the livelihood of many teenagers in the area.

An anonymous source who spoke to Polokwane Observer says a Nigerian food store operates in the CBD as a smoke screen for the drug operation, which uses young children as a means of peddling drugs.

He says the store is operational from 11:00 every day and just by observing the premises, an influx of learners who should be in school are lingering around the premises in uniform.

“If you stop along the street at any time of the day, you are guaranteed to find learners there waiting to be given drugs to sell. My fear is that these learners will end up wanting to experiment with the drugs which will lead to addiction as it is easier to get addicted if you are still young. They are also selling to their peers who end up stealing money from their parents to fuel their addiction.”

In a separate incident, the mother of a concerned 16-year-old boy says a well-known drug dealer, who is renting a room in the same yard as her was beaten up by members of the community at the beginning of the month after someone found out he was using teenagers in the community to sell for him.

She says the incident happened in the CBD area and she only found out about it after he returned home bruised and battered while refusing to go to the hospital.

“I asked around and apparently a child was found in possession of nyaope, and when asked where he got it from he led the community to the man that stays here with us. Before this incident I always suspected he was a dealer but I had no confirmation.”

She says after the person was beaten up, he stopped selling from his spot in town and started bringing the drugs home which have exposed her children who also stay in this yard to the drugs.

“Our yard has now become known as a drug house and when these addicts come they approach anyone looking for drugs, including my two children who I am sure did not even know what drugs look like, before this. There is nothing I can do but just sit by as young children in the community come here to buy drugs. Some occasionally going into his room and spending hours before they leave with what looks like more drugs to sell.”

She says she tried to speak to the dealer who simply laughs in her face.

Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo says there are no registered cases involving school children.

He has urged the public to report cases and not take matters into their own hands.

Vincent Kunutu, the Spokesperson for the Seshego Community Against Drugs and Gangsterism says they are aware of the claims as various parents have come forward.