Two men who were arrested by the police after they were found in possession of ARVs worth R200 000 will appear at the Tembisa magistrate court tomorrow.
The pair was arrested when patrolling flying squad car stopped their car near Clayville in Olifantsfontein following a tip-off from a community member. The police believe the suspects stole the ARVs for use in the manufacturing of an illegal drug known as "whoonga", which is a concoction containing stocrin (an ARV drug), dagga, Strepsils and rat poison.
Police sources were quoted as saying the two were found with a box of viread and two plastic bags, each carrying about 20 batches of ARVs. Viread is an antiretroviral drug that falls within the category of HIV medicines called nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
The Department of Health is extremely concerned by this practice of using ARVs in manufacturing "whoonga". The department would like to appeal to members of the public to work with it in bringing those involved in this practice to book. Healthcare workers are also urged to work with the department in ensuring that ARVs do not find their way into wrong hands.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 395 8493
Cell: or 079 517-3333
