Drugs and substance abuse were cited as major contributors to the scourge of gender-based violence and abuse in Alexandra.
Thapelo Rahlogo of NPO Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training made the link at the commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking on 26 June at East Bank Hall. “Over indulgence and repeated abuse of drugs and alcohol contribute to a culture of domestic violence mostly against women and children in the home and community by those they expect to protect them,” Rahlogo said lamenting that the victims were often forced to return to the abusers because of dependency.
He said in addition to physical violence, the abuse included inappropriate touching, emotional and verbal tormenting, sexual violation and rape which will require counselling to help them heal and cope afterwards. He identified date rape as abhorrent and common in the township and resulting from perpetrators exploiting friendly gestures by women as licence to violate them. “They then spike their drinks and abuse them when in a subconscious state.”
He said children and the youth without proper guidance emulated the violence from the home as they were unable to distinguish right from wrong behaviour which they also see manifesting in the rest of the community.
“It all starts in the home and should be corrected from the home than blaming the government,” he said.
The NPO assists both victims and perpetrators with various free intervention to help them recover and perpetrators in particular to re-embrace the women and children in their lives. The intervention include treatment support and training at rehabilitation centres to help them deal with temptations against relapse.
Princess Gibson of the City’s Department of Community Development said the River Park Centre was one of five – Westbury, Eldorado Park, Joubert Park and Tladi in Soweto. “Their rehab programmes include behaviour modification for addicts after they quit the habit, preparation for reintegration into their families and society through after-care support and exposure to gainful employment and other opportunities, ” she said while imploring parents and guardians with addicted children to utilise the services of the centre and Sanca which is on 8th Avenue.
“Both parents and addicted children need this help to stop theft and money-related crimes by the children who want to fuel their drug habit.”
Four recovering addicts who are on aftercare support commended the two facilities for giving them a second chance in life. They urged those who are tempted into drug and substance abuse to rethink as they will regret the imminent damage to their lives.
They said once hooked, the drugs took total control of the victims, are very difficult to quit, make one lose sense of time, normal body functions, needs and caused uncontrollable cravings until they got a kick. They asked for forgiveness from those they offended and pledged to help others not to succumb to the temptation. Jackson Khabishi, a brother to a recovering addict, urged parents and guardians of affected children to nurture and not begrudge them. “Take it as your responsibility to help them, don’t call them names, shout at them, be angry with them but be patient, make them feel human and not rubbish and also pray for and with them.”
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