A Sivewright Street sex worker injected a lethal amount of heroin into her neck moments before stepping into a place of hope.
Tiffany, who told the News about how she became a sex worker, which featured in the 30 January edition of the News has found the exit from Krugersdorp’s drug slum and is now on the road to recovery. But the road was not easy.
Following the appearance of the first article, readers were given a glimpse into the dark world of drugs and prostitution.
On Wednesday 27 January, News journalist Marizka Coetzer received a ‘please call me’ from Tiffany, who she has had a few encounters with and she has come to love.
“Please Marizka, I don’t know what to do. Please,” cried a desperate and broken soul over the phone.
On her way to a story, the News picked up Tiffany who sat on the pavement in Luipaard Street. She was as high as a kite with eyeliner running down her face. Overcome with emotion, Coetzer’s instincts led her to contact a local organisation who takes in women; The Cradle of Hope.
Here they met up with Melody van Brakel and her team who interviewed Tiffany.
The home is a haven for abused women and children situated in Krugersdorp West.
Van Brakel and her team decided to give Tiffany a chance even though the house was full to capacity and they have never dealt with a heroin addict who was a prostitute.
Driving back Coetzer dropped Tiffany off to pack her things, agreeing to pick her up later. Filled with emotions ranging from fearful to being proud, the News slowly drove up to Tiffany’s flat for the first time. Usually the News met up with Tiffany at the McDonald’s and walked up to Sivewright Street, in an attempt to stay under the radar. Unsure if Tiffany has changed her mind the News took the stairs to her flat and nervously knocked.
Mr LuckyCharm, the News’ trusty informer, and one of Tiffany’s clients were in the flat with her where she was pacing up and down.
The News entered the flat and went to Tiffany’s room where we waited patiently for the restless sex worker to get her things and herself together.
“Shut up,” Tiffany shouted from the bathroom, “I am trying to inject into my neck and I cannot focus if you don’t shut the hell up”.
This was her very last ‘hit’ and she did it properly as she injected herself with six bags of heroin. Not only is this a dangerous amount but a very lethal shot.
“High, was not the word, as we started loading her few belongings, stuffed in pillowcases in my car,” said Coetzer.
“Is this the end or the beginning?” Coetzer wonders to herself as they make their way to The Cradle of Hope, but not before Tiffany said her final goodbyes to her Nigerian national whom she lived with for the past seven years.
Relieved the News signs Tiffany into the house, as she has no relatives close by and hoping for the best.
Nine days drug free, it would seem that the sex worker is on the road to recovery, until the moment she snapped.
The News received a call from the house early that morning stating that Tiffany had opened the gate and made a run for it.
Devastated, the News asked the most frequently asked question, is there a cure to break the Sivewright curse, and at that moment, the answer was no, there is no cure for the broken. Days go by, and no word from Tiffany, however it was confirmed that she was back in her drug slum.
“At first I felt that I shouldn’t be here, but I felt like I was back at home.”
Tiffany lasted a total of five days in Sivewright when she asked her roommate to take her back to The Cradle of Hope.
“For the first two days, I took no drugs. I just sat around thinking.”
She describes the fives days back on street as a guilt trip where she realised she finally had to face reality. After being a heroin addict for seven years, Tiffany claims she did not inject herself again when she went back to Sivewright.
“I only snarfed. My conscience and mind told me no, but my body said yes.”
Arriving back at the house of hope, Tiffany walked through the gates to finally start her road to recovery again.
“I felt relieved and empowered. This time I was ready because I walked in by myself and for myself.”
After many dangerous trips into the the drug capital of Krugersdorp and an in depth investigation about the ‘ladies of the night’, Coetzer is happy to report that Tiffany has been clean for just over a month and is still going strong with the help of the wonderful people of The Cradle of Hope and the support of the community.
“It would seem that there is a cure for the broken, and I call it hope,” said Coetzer.
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