Commonly called ‘nyaope gangs’, these young boys and girls have filled the streets of every town in the country including the Vaal Triangle towns of Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Meyerton.

Because of the joys of being high on this drug (nyaope) these young boys and girls have become addicted to it and have left their homes, albeit for a gloomy future. The Vanderbijlpark CBD has turned into what is now called ‘Mattress City’ where every corner and alley one tuns into one sees mattresses and blankets strewn across them. This is so because the ‘nyaope gangs’ come to ‘occupy’ them at night; these are the places they call home!

During the day they are out trying to make a few rands by doing ‘odd jobs’, running errands for hawkers and shop owners for a ‘fix’. Many have left families that could give them love, care and comfort, because of this drug.

Disebo Mokotedi*, a mother from Zone 3 in Sebokeng, tells Sedibeng Ster of the hurt that her ‘clean and briliant’ son caused her after he was influenced by friends to join them in using the drug.

“I did everything for him. He was the love of my life but after what I have gone through I have come to accept that I no longer have a son. To me he does not exist anymore. I am awaiting his death.”

The heartbroken Mokotedi said that she has looked into every corner of the country trying to find help for her son. This includes rehabilitation centres, medications, pastors, sangomas, chaining him to trees (as ridiculous as it sounds) and more and nothing has helped.

“My house is empty, my bank account is empty and my heart is empty! This is all because of him. All that I am waiting for is a call from whoever telling me that I should come and pick him up as he has died.”

Nyaope is said to be a cocktail of dagga, heroin, anti-retroviral drugs, rat poison and acid. It is a uniquely South African street drug that is highly addictive and destructive. It is a fine white powder that is usually combined with marijuana (dagga) and smoked. The fine white powder can be made up from anything – from rat poison, heroin, detergent powder, anti-retroviral drugs, dried milk, pool cleaner, to bicarbonate of soda.

Users roll Nyaope with dagga to smoke – because they say it is tough to smoke in powder form. The amount of dagga determines the strength of the ‘zol’. It sells for about R 20 – R 30 per portion. Others use it in fluid form when they use a syringe to inject it.

Users say that a person can become totally addicted after using the drug only once. A user will soon feel as if he needs several hits to make it through the day.“Once it is smoked, the user experiences intense euphoria, deep contentment and relaxation.

The user feels warm when it is cold, calm instead of angry and full when hungry. The feeling is beyond human experience and the intense effect lasts for about two – four hours. When this blissful state wears off after six to 24 hours, agonising withdrawal symptoms kick in – characterised by severe abdominal pain and backache, sweating, chills, anxiety, restlessness, depression, nausea and diarrhea,” say residents of Mattress City.

It is said that it is the withdrawal, the unbearable stomach cramps, nausea, mood swings and aggression, that makes ‘nyaope’ so addictive. A user is terrified of having to deal with the feelings of anxiety and physical pain, so the only possible cure available is another hit, and then another one, and another one after that. Users say that they have to use at least up to 5 bags per day to keep the withdrawal symptoms away.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster ‘Mattress City residents’ say that they have nowhere to go.

“These are the only places we know, the only places we can truly call home as society has given up on us. We are the forgotten,” they lament.

Most say they started using the drug due to peer pressure and became addicted, and since then have been separated from their families. Meanwhile shoppers, business owners and residents are afraid for their safety. “We cannot go shopping freely as at every turn you are either bothered for money or robbed by these youngsters; something needs to be done,” one shopper said.

A business owner in the CBD said that business has declined. “You can see for yourself. All major retailers have moved out because of the decline. Business is not good anymore. Who wants to buy where there is pi## and sh## wherever they walk? What will remain in these towns are ‘tuck-shops’ where you can find almost everything and anything but of less quality.”

Authorities and other civil organisations have tried with all their might to remove the ‘nyaope gangs’ from the streets and find them places of safety where they can stay but, in no time, they are back on the streets. The nyaope boys and girls around the country ‘Mattress Cities’ are their homes!