SAB and Tshebelisano Support Group tackle alcohol abuse
JOBURG - With alcohol abuse and binge drinking identified by the police as contributory to many criminal offences in Joburg, South African Breweries (SAB) and NPO Tsebelisano Support Group offered residents and liquor traders support in a bid to curb this abuse.
Lwazi Maneli, of the support group, said residents were central to creating an anti-alcohol abuse environment. “They are the eyes and ears of every good and bad thing taking place around them, including alcohol abuse through the… abuse of trading hours by legal and illegal traders,” Maneli said.
He stated that the public’s silence on abuse made them complicit in destroying the future generation and people should not blame the police if they did not report all forms of crime. He said their programmes mutually benefited the police, liquor traders and the community.
“This includes a trauma counselling hotline for the police and those impacted by crime, a discounted compu-serve support at select stores, and a subsidised holiday programme for police members.”
Maneli said they also sponsored an education trust for orphaned and vulnerable children, called Dial a Teacher, for pupils’ support with homework, and were launching an entrepreneurial skills training programme with the Gibs School of Business for 18- to 35-year-olds starting in March. Interested youths should contact 011 881 8202 or e-mail maruping.phuthi@za.sabmiller.co.za.
Other initiatives include lobbying for stipends for safety patrollers and the establishment of youth and women’s desks to facilitate their involvement in crime reduction.
Mpho Botha, of the group, said they also used sports, acting and other networking programmes to occupy the youth positively. “We also link them with scholarship and bursary opportunities to advance their education and a better life in future.”
SAB’s Maruping Phuthi said they have prioritised local liquor traders for training to help them be responsible traders, to comply with licensing laws and to regulate noise pollution and any nuisance associated with their business. This he said will help expose illegal traders to the police for prosecution.
“We further support the community and traders through other corporate social investment initiatives including an alcohol policy, a tavern intervention programme to curb alcohol abuse, a drink and drive programme to deal with safety issues, domestic violence, child abuse, the establishment of support groups and a centre for testing alcohol abusers.
Details:Toll free 0800 33 33 77.
