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Fraud Zone
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Brazen armed gangs are targeting Soweto doctors for anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), which are a component for the cheap streets drug called nyaope.
There is a growing number of nyaope users in townships all over the country. The drug, which is smoked, is also known as whoonga in KZN. Nyaope is a concoction of dagga and cheap heroin. Other substances may be added to give it a stronger kick. These may include rat poison, cleaning detergents and ARVs. It is believed nyaope's high makes users to be aggressive, and also heightens sexual desires, which is thought to be behind the rise in rape cases in the townships. Packaged in small amounts and sold at R30 a hit, nyaope is easily available in the townships.
Several doctors in Soweto came under attack at the weekend from armed gangs who broke into surgeries and demanded ARVs, which are HIV drugs. Soweto-based doctors yesterday said they were still in shock after this spate of attacks.Dr Oscar Makhubele, who has a surgery in Protea Glen, Soweto, said he no longer felt safe."If these guys are involved in some drug syndicate, we don't know how dangerous they are," said Makhubele. He said men brandishing guns forced their way into his surgery about 7am in the morning. "They knocked on the door and when the cleaner opened, they ambushed her and demanded that she shows them where the ARVs were kept," said Makhubele.
According to Makhubele, although the criminals did not steal any money as his practice only accepts medical aid patients, the thieves made off with brand new and old computers, including frames for spectacles and a CCTV monitor. The ARV drugs they stole were worth at least R25000, said Makhubele.
The doctor said Protea Glen was becoming a thriving market for drugs. "They are probably going to use them for nyaope," Makhubele said. He said this was the fifth robbery since he opened his practice in Soweto in 2004. A junior doctor at Makhubele's surgery, Mphuzi Baloyi, said if the robberies continued he would have to consider leaving the area."I have heard of doctors going to dangerous places and setting up practices there, and being robbed of their cash, I never thought it would happened in Soweto," Baloyi said.
He said the brazen nature of the robberies scared him the most.
"We tightened security after the last robbery, the security is actually fine, but they just caught us off guard," said Baloyi.
The acting chairperson of the South African Medical Association, Mark Sonderup, appealed to the Soweto community to root out these "ARV bandits" operating in the area.
"When they steal ARVs, they steal someone's life. It is despicable. A doctor's room is a sanctuary where people go to for help. If this continues to happen, private doctors will be afraid to operate in the townships," he warned.
Police spokesperson, Kay Makhubela, said two other surgeries in Protea Glen were robbed in the past few days.
In both cases, the armed thieves made off with unspecified drugs, computers and CCTV systems.
Kay Makhubela called on anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the armed robbers to contact the police.
Itumeleng Mafisa, The New Age, August 2012