Music therapy uplifts whoonga addicts

A DURBAN mother of two, Thobile Dladla (39), who has been inspiring whoong addicts with music lessons since 2012, has huge plans for her altruistic project.

While working as a domestic worker in Durban North, she has been saving some of her hard earned money to finance a debut CD for the music group she has named Ihlolamvula. Her ultimate dream would be to accompany her students on a tour to promote their Zulu folk themed album, featuring five tracks written and produced by Dladla.

“My boys are very talented. I understand that it is difficult for them to quit, but I know that they will change and some of them have already begun to change. The biggest problem is that these boys are bored and don’t have anything to do. They have little hope and have dropped out of school. Many of them grew up without parents, and they need something to inspire them, to keep them busy,” said Dladla.

Despite protests from her neighbours Dladla has been teaching the 16 addicted youngsters, aged 16 to 24 years, how to play various instruments. “My community has not been not supportive. They feel that I am bringing criminals into the community,” she said.

The selfless musician also had to drop out of school at the age of 13 to support her siblings, after her father passed away. Although her dream of pursuing a tertiary education was dashed, Dladla did not give up on her passion for music. She taught herself how to play various instruments and sang at her church.

Dladla has been encouraging the boys to go back to school, while also teaching them to give back to the community. In the past they have donated clothes to the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust.

What is Whoonga?

– Whoonga, also known as nyaope or wunga, is new highly addictive and deadly street drug that has reportedly become prevalent in 2010.
– According to the Department of Health and Africa Health Placements (AHP), a social profit organisation, the dangerous new drug is made from a concoction of various substances, such as low grade heroine, rat poison, soap powder, strychnine and cocaine.
– Some believe that another main ingredient in the drug anti-retrovirals (ARVs), but the Department of Health insist that no tests have conclusively proven this belief.
– Whoonga is sold as a fine white power, mixed with dagga or tobacco and smoked.
– The Department of Health has reported that users can become addicted even after one hit.
– The drug is reportedly sold cheaply, and one hit can cost as little as R20, but addicts find themselves needing more than one hit per day. Many of its users have very little to no income and often turn to crime in a desperate need to support their habit.
– Users often experience serious side effects, such as aggression, anxiousness, extreme stomach cramps and the deceleration of the users breathing and heart rate.
– The severe addiction of the drug is facilitated by the resulting withdrawal symptoms. The Department of Health reported that withdrawal symptoms include severe headaches, muscle spasms and stomach pains. Users continue using the drug as the heroin provides temporary relief.