A group of individuals, identifying as drug addicts, took to the streets of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, to call for free food and assistance.
Protest Highlights Growing Need for Food
A video recently emerged on TikTok showing a protest in Pietermaritzburg, where a group of individuals, many appearing to struggle with substance use, highlighted their difficulty in accessing basic necessities.
The group marched in hopes of receiving urgent support.
Protestors carried placards with messages like “nginelungelo lokulingana,” meaning “I have equal rights.”
Unlike initiatives aimed at rehabilitation or helping them off the streets, this march was purely a plea for free food.
Indicating a dire situation as hunger and addiction continue to threaten their lives every day.
As they moved through the streets, they chanted, “We are going to the Shelter. Even if they kill us, shoot us, we’re going to the Shelter.”
Details regarding the group’s intended destination or the distance covered remain unclear.
A request for comment has been sent to the police, the article will be updated once comment has been received.
However, A recent Associated Press report highlights the struggles of a needle exchange program due to significant global aid cuts.
These reductions have led to the closure of partner nonprofits and clinics, limiting access to essential services for drug users.
Now, more people are being forced to rely on overcrowded public facilities that are already stretched thin.
These centres often can’t keep up with the demand, which means many drug users are going without clean needles, basic healthcare and food.
SACENDU 2025: Latest Drug Use Statistics in South Africa
The South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) released an update in February 2025 that shows the trends in drug use across various regions.
The number of people seeking treatment for methamphetamine use was highest in the Western Cape (34%) and Gauteng (24%).
However, the Eastern Cape showed a decline, with admissions dropping from 23% to 12% in the last year.
Heroin use remains a serious issue, with 8% of those under 20 in the Western Cape admitted for heroin-related problems, and 9% in the Eastern Cape.
Do you believe protests like these highlight a bigger issue in society?
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