Community march to raise awareness against crime and drug abuse
“Gangs continue to cause havoc within our community and they have been terrorising the entire community. We decided that enough is enough. The community must come together and look out for one another,” says Bongani.
KwaThema – Tsoseletso ya Basha, a youth organisation based in KwaThema, along with local stakeholders, held a Know Your Neighbour Awareness Walk from Selope Thema Clinic to Marikana Grounds on June 28.
The objective of the campaign was to tackle drugs and alcohol abuse and gangsterism in the area.
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The organisation works with youth-related issues and aims to uplift, empower and train young people of KwaThema.
Organiser Bongani Sithole from the Tsoseletso ya Basha organisation says in order to fight social ills and challenges, they need to remain united.
“Gangs continue to cause havoc within our community and they have been terrorising the entire community.
“We decided that enough is enough. The community must come together and look out for one another,” says Bongani.
The chairperson of the KwaThema stakeholders, Thabang Xaba, says: “With the number of cases that have been reported to us as non-profit organisations, it indicates that drug use and gangsterism is a problem in this community.
“Hence, we felt that we need to have a conversation with the community to find a way forward.
“We believe that together we can find a suitable solution.”
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The community came out in their numbers to support the campaign. Among them were the KwaThema SAPS, who assured the community that they are working day and night to ensure the safety of residents.
Sgt Percy Mabanga encouraged community members to continue to speak out against crime and fraud, and that the community needs to work hand in hand with the police in order to end crime.
“People are scared of coming to the police station to report crime, yet quick to criticise the police about lack of service. There isn’t much we can do without their involvement.
“We are hoping that this campaign will unite and teach the community to love their neighbours,” says Mabanga.
The Tsoseletso ya Basha and Thabanga Xaba foundations are open to anyone who needs assistance in reporting a crime or would like help in terms of substance and alcohol abuse.
They can call the following numbers for more information: 061 594 0254 or 061 496 7568.
