News / Regional
Police dawn raids net 6 family members as kingpin tries to flee
31 Mar 2016 at 00:45hrs | Views
Jane Ndlovu also known as MaHadebe
POLICE have arrested six family members believed to be part of a syndicate that has been selling drugs to school children in Bulawayo.
Sources close to investigations yesterday said the drug peddlers were arrested in early morning raids at four houses - three in Entumbane and another in Gwabalanda suburb on Tuesday.
Jane Ndlovu, 37, popularly known to her under-age customers as MaHadebe, her husband Pholani Ndlovu, 41, their son Vusumuzi Ndlovu, 17, Marvelous Nzima, 25, Archbell Phiri, 18, all of Entumbane suburb and Stanley Ndapota, 32, are expected to appear in court soon.
The raids follow a story in The Chronicle last week detailing how three pupils from Msiteli High School nearly died and were admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital after taking pink pills which MaHadebe allegedly sells to them at $1 for 10.
It is suspected the pills are used to stabilise violent mental patients.
At the time, pupils refused to point out MaHadebe saying they feared death.
Another supplier known only as Mkharadi allegedly moves around Entumbane, Mpopoma and Mabutweni suburbs selling the dangerous drugs to pupils.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said police arrested MaHadebe and found her with 17 twists of dagga in her bedroom.
She said the woman tried to escape but police caught her. They recovered 34 sachets of dagga hidden around her waist and wrapped in a jacket
MaHadebe implicated her husband.
Insp Simango said police also arrested Pholani and found him with 20 bottles of 100mls Broncho cough syrup.
The potent cough mixture is commonly known as Ngoma.
The rest of the syndicate members were arrested after police got information that they are drug dealers employed by MaHadebe and her husband.
Last week, concerned parents who cannot be named for ethical reasons, pressured their children into exposing MaHadebe.
On Easter Monday, this newspaper's reporters, posing as potential customers, tried to buy drugs from MaHadebe to prove the allegations.
She said she was out of stock.
Later, when they spoke to MaHadebe, she changed her story and vehemently denied she was selling drugs.
She said people who hate her were spreading the "vicious rumour" that she was selling drugs.
"I'm not selling any drugs. If I was, you would probably see some of the used samples.
"Bring me those children who say I sold them drugs. Why would I sell drugs? Why should I kill other people's children? Those who accuse me of selling drugs are the ones doing so and want to use my name to cover up," MaHadebe said.
A number of pupils said following the publication of the story by this paper on March 21, MaHadebe kept a low profile and only sold to established customers.
"She only sells to young boys and those she knows," said a pupil.
Our news crew observed two kombis that stopped and the occupants went to buy drugs at MaHadebe's house.
"We buy pills and dagga here," said a tout.
The Chronicle spoke to some residents of Entumbane who accused police of turning a blind eye to MaHadebe's alleged drug dealing.
"She's now an expert at this. She has been doing it for over four years and has infiltrated most of the western suburbs.
"Residents have been complaining about her but nothing is being done. She's selling dagga, those pink pills, Ngoma and recently she started selling beer," said a neighbour.
A fuming parent who only identified himself as Dube, said: "Everyone knows she sells drugs. She is destroying the future of our children. Over the years we've engaged the police but nothing has come out of it. She's killing our children and stealing their future."
Pupils said mixing the pink pills with a soft drink produced a "nice instant high."
They said the drug is an affordable way of getting intoxicated without suffering a hangover.
A medical expert and Mpilo's clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya strongly warned teens against taking it.
He said: "It can kill. It can cause brain damage and kidney failure. It's shocking that our children are taking it. It's popular at parties in the Western world where they mix it with various drinks. This is something that we should campaign against".
Sources close to investigations yesterday said the drug peddlers were arrested in early morning raids at four houses - three in Entumbane and another in Gwabalanda suburb on Tuesday.
Jane Ndlovu, 37, popularly known to her under-age customers as MaHadebe, her husband Pholani Ndlovu, 41, their son Vusumuzi Ndlovu, 17, Marvelous Nzima, 25, Archbell Phiri, 18, all of Entumbane suburb and Stanley Ndapota, 32, are expected to appear in court soon.
The raids follow a story in The Chronicle last week detailing how three pupils from Msiteli High School nearly died and were admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital after taking pink pills which MaHadebe allegedly sells to them at $1 for 10.
It is suspected the pills are used to stabilise violent mental patients.
At the time, pupils refused to point out MaHadebe saying they feared death.
Another supplier known only as Mkharadi allegedly moves around Entumbane, Mpopoma and Mabutweni suburbs selling the dangerous drugs to pupils.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said police arrested MaHadebe and found her with 17 twists of dagga in her bedroom.
She said the woman tried to escape but police caught her. They recovered 34 sachets of dagga hidden around her waist and wrapped in a jacket
MaHadebe implicated her husband.
Insp Simango said police also arrested Pholani and found him with 20 bottles of 100mls Broncho cough syrup.
The potent cough mixture is commonly known as Ngoma.
The rest of the syndicate members were arrested after police got information that they are drug dealers employed by MaHadebe and her husband.
Last week, concerned parents who cannot be named for ethical reasons, pressured their children into exposing MaHadebe.
On Easter Monday, this newspaper's reporters, posing as potential customers, tried to buy drugs from MaHadebe to prove the allegations.
She said she was out of stock.
Later, when they spoke to MaHadebe, she changed her story and vehemently denied she was selling drugs.
She said people who hate her were spreading the "vicious rumour" that she was selling drugs.
"I'm not selling any drugs. If I was, you would probably see some of the used samples.
"Bring me those children who say I sold them drugs. Why would I sell drugs? Why should I kill other people's children? Those who accuse me of selling drugs are the ones doing so and want to use my name to cover up," MaHadebe said.
A number of pupils said following the publication of the story by this paper on March 21, MaHadebe kept a low profile and only sold to established customers.
"She only sells to young boys and those she knows," said a pupil.
Our news crew observed two kombis that stopped and the occupants went to buy drugs at MaHadebe's house.
"We buy pills and dagga here," said a tout.
The Chronicle spoke to some residents of Entumbane who accused police of turning a blind eye to MaHadebe's alleged drug dealing.
"She's now an expert at this. She has been doing it for over four years and has infiltrated most of the western suburbs.
"Residents have been complaining about her but nothing is being done. She's selling dagga, those pink pills, Ngoma and recently she started selling beer," said a neighbour.
A fuming parent who only identified himself as Dube, said: "Everyone knows she sells drugs. She is destroying the future of our children. Over the years we've engaged the police but nothing has come out of it. She's killing our children and stealing their future."
Pupils said mixing the pink pills with a soft drink produced a "nice instant high."
They said the drug is an affordable way of getting intoxicated without suffering a hangover.
A medical expert and Mpilo's clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya strongly warned teens against taking it.
He said: "It can kill. It can cause brain damage and kidney failure. It's shocking that our children are taking it. It's popular at parties in the Western world where they mix it with various drinks. This is something that we should campaign against".
Source - chronicle
