DIEPSLOOT – Community leader Jacob Phaswane Shika, alongside concerned residents, took bold action today by closing down several informal shops allegedly selling a dangerous home-brewed alcohol known as “Thothotho.”
The raid follows the recent death of a woman who was found unresponsive on the roadside after allegedly consuming alcohol from one of the outlets. Paramedics declared her dead on the scene, and the body remains unidentified at Fire Mortuary.
Thothotho is an illegal concoction reportedly made from rotten bread, sour pap, yeast, water, and unknown substances. It is cheap, unregulated, and increasingly popular among vulnerable residents — but experts warn it poses serious health risks, including death.
“We are not going to wait for more people to die,” said Shika during the closure. “These shops are not only breaking the law — they are destroying lives.”
A video clip captured during the operation shows community members assisting in shutting down these dangerous shops.
Shika has vowed to continue working with police, local authorities, and community leaders to eliminate the source of the toxic brew.
The crackdown serves as a warning to those selling illegal alcohol in Diepsloot and a wake-up call for greater regulation and community-led enforcement.