Watch: Reiger Park community empowered to make informed decisions

Social workers and social auxiliary workers from the Boksburg social development department hosted a substance abuse and crime prevention awareness programme on November 13 at the Reiger Park Civic Centre.

The informative event was aimed at educating the community about the dangers and consequences of substance abuse. Issues of crime prevention and gender-based violence were also addressed.

Facilitating the event, social worker Julia Nkgoeng said: “The purpose of the event was to pull the plug against substance abuse because we have realised that it is the biggest contributing factor of crime and gender-based violence.”

One of the speakers, Sgt Mpho Ngoetjana of the Reiger Park SAPS, told attendees most women who open cases of abuse at the Reiger Park SAPS withdraw their cases at a later stage.

“They come to the police station to open up cases when they are angry at their perpetrators but when perpetrators bribe or start showing them love, they come back to the police station and tell us they don’t want to proceed with the case,” Ngoetjana said.

She also added that most victims depend on the perpetrators for shelter or food.

“Men are also abused even though sometimes they don’t come to the police station and open cases,” she said.

Ngoetjana urged women and men to speak up against abuse.

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Refiloe Mailula warned the community about human trafficking, saying children should be careful not to talk to strangers because in most cases traffickers use money, sweets and food to lure children.

“Most women become victims of human trafficking when they don’t do thorough research when applying for jobs. When lured to those dodgy places or locations they then find themselves being recruited for prostitution, sexual exploitation and drug syndicates. It is advisable to do research about the post that you are applying for and carry identification just in case you are abducted so you can go to the nearest police station and seek help,” Mailula said.

Meanwhile, Lebohang Motsoeneng highlighted the cons of substance abuse.

Vital numbers that one can phone when trafficked or abused, National Human Trafficking Resource line 0800 222 777, Gender based Command Centre 0800 428 428 or send a please call me to *120*7867#.

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