A growing drug crisis and allegations of police corruption have sparked anger and desperation among residents of Barberton, who say their community is being destroyed by easily accessible narcotics.
The community’s frustration reached a boiling point two weeks ago when residents apprehended four Nigerian nationals, aged between 29 and 48, who were found in possession of drugs and a significant amount of cash. The suspects were handed over to the local police, only to be allegedly released within hours without ever appearing in court.
This incident has cemented a widespread belief among locals that the police are repeatedly failing to act against drug-related crimes. Community Leader Njabulo Mkhonto voiced the anger felt by many, alleging deep-seated corruption.
“The MEC must come down and talk to this matter,” Mkhonto said. “How can we best deal with these corrupt officials, police officers who are releasing these Nigerians? We are dealing with Nigerians, these people have money. They are buying everything, they are buying police officers… In our information that we got, is that the police were bought to release the suspect.”
The official police response confirms a serious breach of procedure. Lieutenant-Colonel Jabu Ndubane, a spokesperson for the Mpumalanga SAPS, stated that while the suspects were initially “booked accordingly,” a police officer released them the following day.
“So the community were not happy or pleased about the incident and then the investigation was then instituted against such member,” Lt-Col. Ndubane said. “An anti-corruption unit provincially was contacted to investigate on the said allegation and then investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the human cost of the drug trade is starkly visible. Addicts in Barberton describe lives torn apart by substance abuse. Bonginkosi Ntuli, 30, said he turned to drugs after his parents died and has since sold everything in his house, “furniture to windows and doors.”
“It’s been 13 years and I get these drugs they buy [from the] Nigerian guy and the Tanzanian,” Ntuli said, expressing a desire to change. “I want to change my situation cuz it’s not nice to smoke.”
Another addict, Thabiso Nkosi, shared his struggle, linking his addiction to his inability to find work and support his child. “I want to quit because I have a child now,” Nkosi said. “People don’t trust me and they can’t even recommend me for work because I am an addict.”
Pastor Melissa Venter from the Barberton Recovery Centre emphasized the need to address both supply and demand. “I always say where there’s a demand, there will be a supply,” she stated. “If we can educate [on] the dangers of drugs and what it does, then we can break the stigma of addiction in our country because if there isn’t a demand, there won’t be a supply.”
She highlighted the devastating side effects of drug use, including psychosis and permanent brain damage.
As the police investigation into the officer’s conduct continues, the community is left with a sense of betrayal. The four Nigerian men at the centre of the controversy have since fled the area, deepening the residents’ distrust and leaving them to grapple with a crisis that shows no signs of abating.