The DA in Ekurhuleni recently officially submitted an anti-drug petition which calls on the metro to adopt various measures to combat the scourge of drugs in communities.
On Youth Day, Saturday, June 16, the DA in Ekurhuleni took to the streets of Reiger Park to march against drugs and substance abuse in the metro.
Alderman Tania Campbell, DA spokesperson for Health and Social Development in Ekurhuleni, however, expressed her disappointment towards the executive mayor for not joining the DA members in the march held in Reiger Park last month against drugs.
“The mayor was nowhere to be seen at the march, and when challenged about his whereabouts in accepting the memorandum, he simply claimed he was not a DA mayor.
“This response clearly indicates that the mayor cares little about the crisis that is facing the youth and residents of Ekurhuleni and brings into focus his incompetence as a mayor that is in tune with issues that are happening on the ground.”
During the July council meeting a copy of this memorandum was collected by the petitions committee.
In the memorandum some of the points raised to tackle the huge problems in Ekurhuleni has with drugs include:
- To ring-fence grants to assist rehab centres in the metro;
- To establish special bursary funding for social workers to be placed at all existing clinics;
- To budget for a functional rehabilitation centre in each region of the metro;
- To upgrade existing youth centres to accommodate counselling for drug rehabilitation.
“The march sent a strong statement, not only to those who sell and deal in drugs, but also to the policing and governing structures within the metro, that the residents of Ekurhuleni are sick and tired of the scourge of drugs that is gripping the youth in their communities,” said Campbell.
She said community members joined and cheered as the DA made their way through the community and eventually handed over a memorandum to the acting station commander in Reiger Park.
“While we appreciate the presence of the acting station commander to accept the memorandum, as well as his commitment to ramp up efforts to rid Reiger Park of drugs, it was disappointing not to see Clr Mzwandile Masina present, despite a letter of intention to march and a request for him to be present to accept our memorandum.
“We believe our proposed measures will go a long way to securing a drug-free society, however, the mayor’s no-show leads us to believe that he lacks the political will to help combat the drug scourge affecting our youth.
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