Sanca Central Rand Alcohol and Drug Centre, Rosettenville, hosted its first annual stakeholder imbizo recently.
The purpose of the imbizo was for key stakeholders and community members to take action, harness collaborative partnerships and share ideas on how to combat the scourge of substance abuse in Rosettenville and its surroundings.
The event was opened by the Johannesburg Society for the Blind (JSB), which gave a rendition of songs about a drug-free society.
Councillor Faeeza Chame of Ward 57 attended the event.
Stakeholders, including Believers Care Society, South Rand Hospital: psychiatric ward, Parents Friends Q (PFSAQ), which represented members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Department of Sports Arts, Culture and Recreation Region F, Bereshith Centre and Wembley Shelter for displaced people provided guests with information on their role in combatting substance abuse.
Also present were Khulisa Social Solutions, Corinthians Soccer Club, La Rochelle Primary School, Die Fakkel High School, members of the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) and Rosettenville Child Protection Line.
Lungile Sibisi, a social worker at Sanca Rosettenville, emphasised the importance of collaborating with key stakeholders in providing resources for service users while in the aftercare programme (when addicts return from a rehabilitation centre).
The aftercare programme is aimed at the successful reintegration of service users into society and community life and this can only be achieved if all stakeholders work closely together.
Jack Msibi from Corinthians Football Club spoke about the importance and dire need of recreational activities to keep children and youth away from risky behaviour such as begging in the streets for money to buy drugs.
He added, “Sport is a powerful tool that can encourage and introduce skills development opportunities within the community.”
He also elaborated on the current recreational activities available for the children and youth, such as soccer, cricket and netball.
The relationship between substance abuse and psychiatric disorder was presented by the South Rand Hospital team. Dr Kabo Letseli, the head of psychiatry at the hospital, gave a presentation on the psychological services of substance abuse and the referral process at South Rand Hospital.
Occupational therapist Sibongile Makhubu provided in-depth insight on the role of occupational therapy in substance abuse and how people with substance use disorder can replace unhealthy activities with meaningful activities.
Kgomotso Dhlamini, a community outreach coordinator, said, “As an organisation that is determined to restore the self-respect and dignity of persons affected by alcoholism and drug dependence, we are grateful to know that we are not alone. Instead, we can proudly say Rosettenville is working hard to make our community a safer and drug-free community.”
Terrence Makananisa, director of Sanca Central Rand, closed off the event by expressing the importance of stakeholders developing effective strategies and the formation of a collation to create a drug-free community.
The imbizo was well attended, which was a strong reflection that community members and stakeholders were concerned and committed to finding long-term solutions that would effectively tackle the escalation of substance abuse and contributing social ills within the community.
