Residents vs addicts as Durban drug war intensifies

Durban - Residents of a Phoenix suburb fought with a local drug dealer and his customers on Wednesday in an attempt to shut down a drug den.
The altercation began in the morning when residents came to the aid of a man was being attacked by drug addicts on their way to a drug den in Norris Park Road.

Residents were injured when, armed with sticks and batons, they confronted a drug dealer and his customers. Photo: Supplied. Credit: SUPPLIED

Anil Roopnarain, 32, said three addicts were beating up the man with sticks and whips on the road.
“Myself and another resident said enough is enough. There is a pathway the drug addicts are using that is making our place a living hell. Although we were outnumbered, we fought them off.
“They then chased me home. My wife, Geraldine, witnessed the attack and came on the road to help me. I was struck on the head and Geraldine on her hand,” he said.
His wife said she was holding her month-old baby when a man swung a hockey stick at her.
The police were alerted and when they arrived, the drug addicts jumped over a wall and fled.
Roopnarain said that moments later, a bakkie driven by the drug dealer stopped on the road. Then, about 15 drug addicts armed with iron pipes, sticks, whips and bush knifes, jumped off.
A resident, Dharma Singh, described it as a swarm of bees attacking them.
“We are living in fear and anxiety. The addicts steal anything and everything from out of yards. They disrupt a weekly church meeting. They also sleep on our stairs and front yards, “ he said.
Singh, who has lived in the road for 30 years, said the drug dealer established himself in the area 10 years ago and had a string of businesses in Phoenix. Singh said the solution to the drug problem in the area was for the dealer’s house to be demolished.
Geraldine Roopnarain said parents in the area cried every day because their children were drug addicts.
The emotions of Wednesday’s scene were captured on a cellphone video recording by one of the residents and shows people screaming when the police put some residents into the back of the police van.
“You are taking the wrong people away. What kind of justice is this? You want to lock up innocent people,” shout residents.
The person making the video confronted one of the policeman, asking him why he did not arrest the drug dealer.
Four men were charged for public violence and paid R200 bail on Wednesday last night. They were due to appear in the Phoenix Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning.