Khutsong community unites against drugs after young resident's brutal murder
Mabaso died on 5 August after being stabbed with a screwdriver in Khutsong Extension 3. His alleged killer, a 17-year-old minor, appeared in court on 11 August. The case has been postponed for further investigation.
According to his uncle, Ishmael Mabaso, Ephraim had endured a difficult childhood after his father left when he was just five years old. He later became involved with drugs — a struggle that friends and family believe ultimately led to his death.
'He was a good person and one of the young people who recently told me he wanted to quit drugs and go for rehabilitation,' said community leader Benedict Mahase.
Mahase, through his organisation Chencha Mocha Production, is working with local councillors to help young addicts access rehabilitation. He is also collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to secure ID documents for learners who do not have them — a key barrier that often pushes youth toward crime and drugs.
'Although Ephraim did not have this problem, many young people here feel hopeless without an ID,' explained Mahase. His recent work with Badirile Secondary School revealed that 18 out of 28 learners without IDs actually qualify for them, while the other 10 do not due to their parents not being South African-born.
Residents hope that by addressing these root causes, they can break the cycle of drug abuse and prevent more young lives from being lost.
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