- South Africa’s National Drug Master Plan is meant to reduce the supply and demand for drugs, as well as the harm they cause. But, drug dependence is rising in the country, with the use of heroin and methamphetamines (tik) spreading in poorer communities.
- Violence and corruption often allow drug gangs to operate freely, from the Western Cape to Westbury in Johannesburg. Arresting small-fry drug mules at borders does little to dismantle crime networks and diverts funds that could be used for medical treatment for dependents.
- In Westbury, gangs and drugs overshadow daily life, trapping young people in a cycle of dealing and addiction.
- But some never say die, like Bridget Munnik, manager of the Westbury Youth Centre, which offers a safe place to develop skills, pursue dreams, and break free from violence and drugs.
Anna-Maria van Niekerk is Bhekisisa’s news editor. She joined the centre after six years as the managing editor of the investigative television show, Carte Blanche. Anna-Maria has an extensive career in in-depth health and human rights reporting and has been named both the Vodacom Journalist (2002) and Discovery Health Journalist of the Year (2010) for exposés on the selling of human body parts for muti in Limpopo and the devastating consequences of HIV denialism.
Jessica Pitchford is Bhekisisa's TV and multimedia editor. She's been a journalist since the early nineties and has reported on some pivotal events in South Africa’s political history, such as the country’s transition to democracy and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
Thatego Mashabela was a multimedia producer at Bhekisisa from February 2024 to October 2025.
Yolanda Mdzeke was a junior multimedia reporter and multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa between March 2021 and June 2025.
An award-winning editor and producer with over 22 years in broadcasting, Floris Kotze tells compelling stories that connect with viewers. Inducted into the South African Guild of Editors, he brings creativity, attention to detail, experience and a sharp eye to every frame.
Ruan Visser is a South African-based freelance director of photography, crafting visual narratives with a keen eye for detail and a love for cinematic storytelling.
