By Ayanda Mdluli, Branden Ward and Daniel Whitehorn
A new, deadly and highly addictive drug called whoonga is taking hold of Durban's townships, with authorities warning that its users have increased by thousands in the past year.
The drug is a concoction of the antiretroviral stocrin, dagga and several other substances, including chemicals found in rat poison.
Children as young as 14 are smoking it in drug dens.
Walter Peterson, the Durban manager of Sanca, which treats alcoholics and drug addicts, said addicts used dagga as a base, which was mixed with whoonga into a cigarette and smoked.
Peterson said the drug became popular about a year ago. He said the drug's origins were unknown, but it was probably discovered by experimentation.
Police in Kwadabeka township, near Pinetown, are concerned about the rise in housebreaking cases related to the drug.
"The addicts steal to get money to buy the drug. We have seen a rise in housebreaking cases and theft. The drug has spread all over the township," said Captain Bongani Khomo.
Kwadabeka ward councillor Sifiso Zungu said he was working with the police, parents and schools to deal with the problem.
"We have realised that it is not enough to send the kids to prison. We are trying other ways to rehabilitate them."
A 15-year-old addict said most of the crimes they committed were motivated by the need to get a fix.
"We break into houses and cars, and we steal clothes from washing lines. When we don't smoke we get sick with severe stomach pains. We know that the drug is dangerous, but once you start it's hard to stop."
Side-effects of the drug include loss of appetite, excessive sweating and bleeding when urinating.