Mashatile condemns drug and alcohol abuse by youth

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has condemned the abuse of drugs and alcohol by some youth, describing it as the biggest cancer that was destroying the youngsters of today.

He was speaking at an Alex FM breakfast event at Alexandra High School to celebrate the bravery and determination of the youth of 1976 to fight the apartheid system.

Mashatile, himself a son of Alexandra and an alumnus of the school, urged the youth to resist the temptation to fall victim to drugs and alcohol abuse ‘as it was destroying our future leaders’.

“A few weeks ago, the president and I met with the Minister of Police Bheki Cele and we agreed that we must have task teams that prioritise serious crimes like murder, rape and drugs, and he agreed and told us his department was also working closely with patrollers on this score.

“We have to also remember that drugs are a big challenge because they are a money spinner. Some drug lords bribe the authorities, so that is why the government must make sure that it has specialised units to deal with these kinds of things.

“The minister is looking at this and we have started border control because most of the drugs come from outside our borders,” Mashatile said.

Alex FM station manager Takalane Nemangowe said, “Today we are here at Alexandra High School where we have the privilege and honour to host Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Today’s initiative aims to honour the youth of 1976 as the people who courageously fought for our freedom.

“We are here because of the fight and struggles they waged and sacrificed their lives to make sure we were freed from the shackles of apartheid and today we can go to school and learn in the language of our choice.”

Related Article:

Former Alex drug addict urges Omherezi to ‘wake up’ to the dangers of drugs

Region E Libraries aim to hook the youth with books and keep them away from drugs