The aim of this paper is to assess the role of eclectic drugs in facilitating crime in East London environ. This paper will further provide evidence which justifies the need for proactive intervention against the drug problem in South Africa.
Research approach, design, participants and interviews
The modus operandi of this study followed a qualitative approach and was conducted in East London located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. East London is the second largest industrial centre in the Eastern Cape with poverty-stricken informal settlements and townships that are overwhelmed by drug use. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted and enhanced by one focus group discussion (FGD). The interviewees comprised of participants from selected East London business entities, governmental institutions, NGOs, and surrounding community members. All the included participants were above the age of 18 years. Through a qualitative approach tenet, the interviews explored subjectively the role of different drugs in facilitating crime [21].
The recruitment was facilitated by purposive and snowball sampling method. The recruited organisations were local implementers of substance abuse policies in East London while six community members were ex-users and peddlers of drugs. South African Police Service (SAPS) member referred the researchers to the mentioned community members. Specifically, ten (10) were from business entities; sixteen (16) were from government and non-governmental organisations, while six (6) were community members from the selected East London communities. Therefore, Business Entity Participant 1 was identified as BEP1, and corresponding numbers were assigned to all the participants up to BEP10; while participants from government and non-governmental organisations were code named, KIP (Key Informant Participants). Further, participants from the selected communities were code named, CMP (Community Member Participant) and they range from CMP1 to CMP6.
There were 20 male and 12 female participants, and the higher number of males was because female counterparts were difficult to locate. Racially, twenty-nine participants were black, one was a coloured while two were white.
The interviews and FGD ranged between 30 to 45 minutes and were conducted by the first author. With the permission of the participants, the interviews were recorded by tape recorder. The study observed constructive paradigm where interviewees produced knowledge through their different experiences and views about the crimes associated with drugs [22].
Data collection process and procedure as significant conventions and measures were followed to obtain permission for data collection. The above procedures endorse the integrity of the study [23]. The quality assurance of this study was provided by the Department of Social Work/ Social Development and the University of Fort Hare Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Higher Degrees Committee. Furthermore, the instruments of data collection and highlights of the study were submitted to the Govan Mbeki’s University Research Ethics Committee at the University of Fort Hare. Subsequently, an ethical clearance certificate number KAN041SBAL01was received. In light of the above, the data collection process of this study was cross-sectional. This is because the principal researcher collected data within a short time frame or is a once-off data collection process. Lichtman [24] states that cross-sectional studies offer several advantages to a study, namely that they are cheaper and can be carried out faster. The process also allows the researchers to examine multiple factors and multiple outcomes in one study.
Data analysis
The qualitative data collected was analysed through thematic analysis. The adopted analysis style entailed breaking down of basic information to patterns or categories through coding to arrive at themes and subthemes [25]. Pragmatically, mountains of basic data were structured, arranged and re arranged into thematic categories and subcategories. Simply put, thematic analysis is a process of identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns and themes within the data. Subsequently, the thematic analysis was strengthened through listening to audiotapes and transcribing them to sieve the appropriate data. The themes were arranged to correspond to the study’s research objectives. Furthermore, Braun and Clarke’s [26] six steps were followed in the formulation of the themes that were derived manually from the content and sentiments expressed by the participants. In doing so, the views and the opinions of the participants were interpreted by the principal researcher. The process of data coding and the analysis were done manually.
Ethical consideration
The principal researcher ensured that the study complied with all the requisite ethos and protocols pertaining to ethical consideration. This, he considered was a sure and a litmus test of an ethically executed research study [27]. Therefore, this study was guided by the following ethical considerations: confidentiality, privacy and anonymity. The purpose was to protect participants from harm and victimisation [25]. To obtain informed consent from all those involved is crucial in preventing adverse consequences. It is also important for the research informants and participants to understand adequately the nuances of the research they are being involved in [28]. Wherever possible, principal researcher respected, treated and engaged the research participants as equal partners. The participants were informed of how the data was to be stored and used [29; 25]. Furthermore, the research questions that were used in this study were submitted to ethical committee to validate prior data collection with the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC’s) approval number, KAN041SBAL01.
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
Thematic findings
New drugs and increase of ungovernable lawlessness.
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Nyaope/whoonga drug continues to produce bizarre crimes
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Methamphetamine (tik) remained the major influence of criminal behaviour.
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East London business entities remained victims of crimes associated with drugs abuse
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New drugs and increase of ungovernable lawlessness.
The findings revealed that new drugs have intensified ungovernable crimes in the city. Some participants noted that, the streets are not safe anytime of the day because drug abuse related crimes. Participants reported cruelty brought by new drugs such as nyaope and tik among users. One participant noted, “these new drugs consume humanness of users because they are always ready to commit violent crimes”. For most participants, there was no hope to address the increase of drug abuse associated criminal activities. The participants fervently believed that if drug problem can be addressed, crime rate would also decrease. The following sentiments were made by participants to support the above findings:
“Undoubtedly, these new drugs have increased crime rate in East London environs. The drug users are usually not employed, and they engage in criminal activities to fund their drug problem”
“Our communities are no longer safe ever since these drugs penetrated everywhere. We live in fear of rape and burglary everyday”.
“Definitely, if government can introduce strong interventions to fight drugs, the crime rate could also decrease”.
The participants observed that SAPS is struggling to conquer the problem. They questioned failing approaches of SAPS on ensuring safety and security of communities against drug related crimes. Some participants indicated that drug peddlers are paying SAPS officials to turn blind eye on the drug crimes. One participant noted, “drug dealers are the facilitators of drug related crimes and untouchable by the law”. Several participants indicated that even political leaders are neglecting the chaos produced by drugs in communities.
Nyaope/whoonga drug continues to produce bizarre crimes.
The analysis reveals how nyaope drug produces ramified criminal activities in East London and its environs. In emphasising disturbance, participants indicated that before nyaope, HIV/AIDS facilities and ARV patients were not robbed of their anti-retro-viral drugs which is common now to concoct nyaope. One participant noted that, “robbing needy people of their medical treatments is an immoral and strange criminal act”. The following comments support the finding:
“Nyaope has caused havoc in the society because its users rob ARVs from patients and health facilities which they use to concoct the drug”.
“Since 2007, the increased use of nyaope has led to many crimes such as assault and house robberies”.
“Many violent reported cases have been associated with nyaope because when users abuse it, they crave for this drug, lose sympathy and runs wild”.
The above sentiments suggest uncontrollability of nyaope drug and its concomitant criminal association since its 2007 existence in among South African communities when the drug was founded. Participants indicated that drug users can use all mechanisms to ensure that there is money to buy them. This drug breeds a culture of criminal behaviour.
Methamphetamine (tik) remained the major influence of criminal behaviour.
Regarding, methamphetamine (tik), participants detailed that communities are calling for rescue from criminal activities associated with tik. Regardless of gender, tik users become uncontrollable crime machines. The participants confirmed that tik users are called “ghosts” because they don’t sleep roaming around the streets day and night engaging in devious criminal activities. They also look for money through hook and crooks to buy the drug to satisfy their addiction. For example, incidents of those who abuse tik breaking car lights only to remove globes to make homemade smoking pipes have been reported in South Africa. Nevertheless, “tik” users are outlawed by the communities and their families. The verbatims below support these findings:
“Amapaharaphara (tik users) are roaming around communities literally stealing everything, even spoons”.
“Seemingly, tik makes its users to crave heavily for meat after its abuse, which makes them steal and slaughter livestock in the surrounding communities in vain”.
“Tik users often snatch bags and phones on the streets. Sometimes they stand on the robots to target passing cars”.
Majority of the participants stated that tik users start stealing from their homes and graduate to entire community. Users of this drug are unable to restrain themselves from stealing and literally pilfer anything. In other household they burgle groceries, either to sell or eat them since this drug starves users. One participant shared, “these young tik smokers are used by kingpins to commit other crimes”. The participants confirmed that the culture of substance abuse largely contributes to the South Africa culture of crime and violence
East London business entities remained victims of crimes associated with drugs abuse.
The data revealed that business entities have become the targets and victims of crimes associated with drug consumption. Nyaope users have made retail businesses their centres to steal some of the ingredients to concoct nyaope. Despite security surveillances, business entities have been victims of burglary. Tik users are paid by criminal masterminds to rob businesses. Several participants stated that “number of supermarket storage sites in East London have suffered from uncontrollable crimes by tik users”. These findings are supported by the below excerpts:
“Many of the businesses here can attest they have been victims of theft and burglary by nyaope and tik users”
They are stealing detergents in stores to concoct nyaope. Others have been found in furniture shops’ storerooms stealing products which they sell at cheap price to get money for drugs”.
The above findings indicate how drug abuse perfidiously and perniciously affects business community and economy. Inopportunely, the phenomenon paints a bleak picture to the international community who contribute significantly to foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.