Residents of Vereeniging in the Vaal claim the law enforcement agency in the area is letting the community down. They say the scourge of substance abuse amongst young people is as the results of a fragmented law enforcement agency.
This utterance was expressed during the substance abuse awareness campaign hosted by Gauteng Department of Social Development in conjunction with other government departments and Non-Profit Organisation at Vaal Technorama Hall in Vereeniging last Friday.
According to the Deputy Director Partnerships and Finance Mamojapele Madimabe the campaign mainly targeted older persons and people with disability. "As government, we want to make vulnerable people in our communities such as elderly and people with disability to be aware about the danger of drugs. It is important to educate them about substances abuse and what they can do to protect their lives.
She further revealed that statistics of substance abuse in the Vaal are worryingly increasing in every quarter. She said in Sedibeng only as many as 300 young people are being referred to rehabilitation centres per quarter.
One resident John Moeti said the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse is now spilling over into junior schools, affecting the development and schooling careers of the youth.
"We need to do something urgently if we want to save our children. Substance abuse is a big problem to the country and to many families, it has become a crippling problem throughout the country. Our country is in tatters and many children are displaced because of drugs. We must stand up as parents and protect our children. We were united when we defeat apartheid and now we have another enemy which is threatening the future of our country" he said.
He added that if the country's borders are not managed better the nation will not be safe as drugs come through the borders. "Solving this domestic epidemic absolutely requires national action, as nyaope, and other drugs that are ravaging our communities come from our neighbouring countries", said Moeti.