Tsakane – Drug addicts and recovering addicts attended the second annual Save a Male Child event at Tsakane Community Hall last Thursday.
The event was organised by the Apostolic Faith Mission (Sanctuary of Hope) Church under the leadership of Apostle Lina Murudi to fight substance abuse in the area.
Murudi says the objectives of the event are to groom boys and show them they are loved.
“We have identified that boys are neglected and as a result, they end up on the wrong side of the law.
“We believe through such initiatives we will be able to win the fight against substance abuse and crime in the area.
“We cannot continue to look away while our children are trapped in a downward spiral.
“Through this initiative, we are saying we are here to help and listen to whatever needs they may have to help them pick up the pieces of their lives,” she says.
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The event was divided into two phases; the first one was in the form of a walk from the corner of Malandela and Ndabezitha streets to the Tsakane Community Hall.
Over 300 boys had posters demonstrating their messages of hope and commitment to fighting social ills contributing to destroying their futures.
Tsakane police spokesperson Sgt Lerato Mngomezulu says pamphlets on the dangers of using drugs were distributed and they were also singing to attract other youth in the streets to join the walk.
The second phase was the formal programme at the community hall where motivational speakers and members of the police spoke with the boys.
Sgt Lebohang Ramaesa pleaded with the boys to invest positively in their lives and warned them about the dangers of involving themselves in criminal activities.
He encouraged those who are experimenting with smoking to stop.
“It is easy to move from smoking cigarettes to dagga and drugs within a short period of time,” he says.
