Parks not for substance abuse
KwaThema- Recreational parks are meant to be places where children and young people can enjoy the outdoors - not a place to take drugs.
Bulithando Park in KwaThema is one of many parks in the township that young people visit in the evenings to smoke dagga and use other drugs.
Amanda Mabuza (25), who lives opposite the park, is not pleased to see the park being used for illegal activities.
“Once the sun sets, you will see young people going into the park, and it’s not to play sports,” says Mabuza.
This behaviour doesn’t set a good example to young children who regularly play in the park.
There are no security guards monitoring the park in the evenings and young people do what they want.
Steven Mlambo (23) claims he visits the park to meet up with friends and listen to music.
He is aware that certain people take drugs in the park.
Closing the park in the evenings is not a option because sports teams use it for practice.
