The bitter standoff between Agi Makhura and Philly Moloto could lead to the closure of LADGAC.
Dozens of drug addicts in the province are facing a bleak future following a bitter fallout between senior members of an anticrime and drug rehabilitation centre.
The Limpopo Anti Drugs, Gangsterism and Crime (LADGAC) has been marred by internal ructions at top management since last month.
The rehab centre, located of the heart of Seshego township outside Polokwane, has an intake of over 30 addicts who were rescued from the underworld rampant criminality and drug dens from various provinces.
Its leadership has been well-received in many communities who deem their unorthodox method to curb crime and the drug trade more effective.
Several videos of LADGAC vigilantes meting out punishment to suspected criminals have gone viral on social media, making them more feared than the police.
The cash-strapped non-profit organisation is now on its moribund without government funding and private donors.
While the distasteful war rages on between the two rival giants, the maverick Agi Makhura and Philly Moloto, druggies are on the receiving end.
The duo has been at loggerheads recently, calling each other unprintable names, much to the frustration of hordes of parents who sought assistance for their drug addicted children.
In recent days, Makhura and Moloto have taken their personal scuffles to social media where they persistently name dropped each other.
Moloto has accused Makhura of swindling parents of the addicted patients and directing the funds into his personal accounts.
Parents are expected to fork out R3 500 monthly to the rehabilitation facility.
Makhura, a social media sensation notorious for vulgarism, had allegedly frozen the bank account of the center, leaving the patients to starve.
While the bank account is blocked, LADGAC employees, mainly security guards, nurses, psychologists and admin staff, did not get their July salaries.
Moloto confirmed to Sunday World that the executive committee has taken a unanimous decision to expel Makhura from LADGAC.
Following his expulsion, Makhura established his own branch which he named it LADGAC Makhura at a plot along the Mashashane road outside Polokwane.
He is said to have recruited addicts from the Seshego center.
An irate Moloto said Makhura has brought the institution’s image into disrepute and some parents are starting to doubt their efforts.
Moloto said “There are lots of indiscretions leveled against Makhura. Over the years, he has acted with impunity and his wayward behavior was just too much to tolerate. He has a tendency of financial misconduct which almost lead us to bankruptcy. While he was still here, there was low staff morale because of his penchant for swearing at people. Imagine a grown person being yelled at and private parts being shouted loosely – it’s embarrassing and degrading. Makhura is known for that and such behaviour is just despicable.”
Makhura lashed back at Moloto for launching a smear campaign to tarnish his name.
Makhura has refuted accusation of freezing the LADGAC account and maintained that he is still part of the center in Seshego.
He said “All these branches are mine. These allegations that I have frozen the accounts are not true. How can I sabotage my own initiative? It is true that I have opened a branch elsewhere because I wanted to take these youngsters away from the distractions at the center which was in a township.”
One of the parents whose daughter is at the rehab said the internal ructions at LADGAC will eventually lead to its collapse and the addicts will return to the streets where they will start using drugs.
The parent, who chose to speak on the basis of anonymity said “This infighting among LADGAC leaders does not augur well for the patients. There is widespread anxiety among parents that this could lead to a shutdown of the center. Once the center is closed, this addicts will definitely relapse to the streets.”
Meanwhile, Vincent Kunutu, who together with Makhura established the Seshego Community Against Crime and Gangsterism said Makhura’s greed and tendency of vulgarism is the reason many people don’t take him seriously.
Kunutu said “Makhura’s notorious reputation for vulgarism and yelling unprintable names in public is denting his image. Many people hardly take him serious because they see him as an immoral person.”