Two months after losing her son in a nyaope-related incident, Tilolo Ndlovu joined in the march against nyaope on Sunday.
The drug awareness event was hosted by Thembanani Men’s Burial Club from Duduza, and supported by various other organisations from around Kwatsaduza.
Samuel Lekatsa, public relations officer of the club, said their actions are a result of the nyaope problem affecting both boys and girls in the township.
They handed out pamphlets is to invite affected families to contact them for referrals and to encourage families to speak up about the problem.
He felt that they also needed to make a contribution in the fight against nyaope, because the drug is tearing families apart.Samuel said that, as fathers they decided to use Father’s Day to spread the message that smokers are not the enemy, but the drug dealers are.
With the wounds of burying her son still fresh, Tilolo they added her voice to highlight the growing number of nyaope-related deaths in the community.
She said Sakhile Ndlovu (17) was shot and killed by police, after they failed to handcuff him, following his escape while under police supervision.
After a neighbour’s home was broken into, Tilolo said her son became a suspect due to his nyaope addiction and previous cases.
The mother adds that they cooperated with the neighbour and police and handed their son over.
On April 14, the case was postponed at the Nigel Magistrate’s Court, and Sakhile was to be transported to a place of safety in Krugersdorp.
Tilolo said when she noticed her son sitting comfortably in the back seat, she told the officer transporting him to keep a close eye and handcuff him as he has a history of escaping.
However, she said the officer insisted he would not run away, and ignored her repeated requests.
She adds that when she received a call hours later informing her that her son had escaped while in Springs, she did not panic and told police where her son was likely to run away to.
The next call was to inform her that her son had been tracked down by police to the address she provided and he was shot.
After informing her husband who rushed to the scene, the last call was to inform her that her son had died on the scene.
Duduza police’s station commander Louise Droskie said the matter is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and they are waiting for ballistic results.
