RUSTENBURG, North West — Rustenburg activist Koketso Berries is living under constant threat of violence after receiving severe death threats linked to her discovery of alleged drug syndicates in the Tlhabane area. The 27-year-old community leader says her life has been completely upended, forcing her to halt her advocacy work and step down from her regular employment for her own safety.
The harrowing ordeal began when Berries took it upon herself to assist in the search for a young child who had been missing in the Rustenburg region for five days. Her grassroots efforts inadvertently led her into the crosshairs of a dangerous criminal network. According to Berries, the turning point occurred at 5:00 a.m. when she received a chilling text message from an unidentified man. The sender explicitly threatened to end her life and demanded that she immediately cease all her community activities.
Moments after receiving the intimidation, Berries received a call confirming that the missing child had been located after being discarded somewhere in Rustenburg. However, the rescue brought no relief. During her search, she had unknowingly navigated through multiple properties in Tlhabane that she now believes are controlled by a local drug cartel. She clarified that she did not visit these locations by choice; she was simply following the trail of the kidnapped child. Because every house she entered appeared to be tied to the same syndicate, the criminals concluded she was deliberately exposing their illicit operations to the public.
The backlash has been swift and devastating for the young advocate. Fearing that her attackers might target her workplace, Berries made the difficult decision to resign from her job to protect herself and her colleagues. Furthermore, her activism in Rustenburg has been entirely suspended. She has officially opened a case with local law enforcement, pleading for state protection so she can eventually return to her profession.
“I would really like to focus on my line of work and the police should do their job,” she expressed, noting that her life is currently on the line simply because she stumbled upon these drug houses while trying to help a family.
Addressing the crisis, North West acting police commissioner Ryno Naidoo confirmed that active investigations are underway. Naidoo assured the public that authorities are utilizing all available resources to protect Berries, including evaluating options under whistleblower protection frameworks.
Emphasizing the importance of civilian cooperation in fighting crime, Naidoo stressed that fear should not deter citizens from reporting illegal activities. He noted that when community members point out wrongdoing, they have a legitimate expectation that responsible agencies will intervene.
“It is an obligation for any member of the community, if they see something that is unlawful, to not accept it,” Naidoo stated, adding that the police force’s primary duty is to handle those exact issues and ensure the safety of those who speak up. He maintained that the police will not allow such intimidation to stop ordinary citizens from standing up against crime.
Despite the ongoing police investigations and the promise of institutional support, the immediate reality for Berries remains grim. With her daily life restricted and her safety uncertain, the activist says her faith is the only thing sustaining her at this moment.
