Elsburg and Alberton SAPS and other stakeholders hosted a march against substance abuse, gangsterism, bullying and teenage pregnancy.

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The 5km march against crime started at Mohagony and Camelthon streets in Leondale and proceeded to Rondebult Sports Ground where different motivational speakers addressed community members.

Previously Germiston City News reported that the Elsburg SAPS conducted a community meeting with Elsburg CPF, SGB and Gauteng East Education District officials at a high school in Rondebult on July 30.

The purpose of the meeting was to address parents’ concerns about incidents inside and outside the schoolyard, including stabbings, fighting and bullying.

The march was organised after the meeting to campaign for anti-gangsterism and to mobilise and sensitise the community about these types of incidents.

Learners from different schools joined the march and voiced their grievances.

Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre members and representatives from the Department of Education led the march.

Members of the CPF and SAPS distributed pamphlets to residents.

Department of Education representatives Lloyd Phiri and Bafana Fatjela were joined on stage by other speakers who addressed the audience.

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Phiri said teachers are being bullied by learners and they have to deal with troublesome learners.

“Learners disregard their teachers. Students and members of the community bully educators verbally and sometimes they threaten them,” said Phiri.

“These actions result in having a dysfunctional schooling environment. The root of our challenges begins with substance abuse and local gang leaders who use young people for their own battles,” Phiri.

“Learners should remain at school, study, and listen to their teachers. Adults should not send underage children to buy alcohol for them,” said Phiri.

He called for the prevention of theft of school taps and damage to school infrastructure.

Elsburg SAPS station commander Lieutenant Colonel George Mhlophe said substance abuse leads to gangsterism and bullying.

“Drug users often lose control and are considered to be a threat and a pose danger to the community,” said Mhlophe.

“We are parents before we are police officers. It saddens our hearts to see young people spiralling out of control in this manner,” he said.

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“Drug and substance dependency leads the user to commit crimes such as theft, robbery and handling stolen goods to fund their drug habit.

“We are concerned about the future of our children. When we do our school search operations the learners rebel against us.

“Let’s stop using our school grounds as a battlefield,” said Mhlophe.

“I know first-hand how aggressive a drug addict can be. The user acts violently towards family members, threatening and forcing them to give money. Unemployment is also a contributing factor to these problems,” said resident Mbali Maseko.

Themba Mhlongo, a CPF patroller, said school searches are conducted in the mornings.

“We often confiscate illegal items but it is impossible to detect everything.”

Learners are getting smarter in hiding things. Peer pressure of wanting to hang with the ‘cool boys’ affects learners.

“Both girls and boys become rebellious,” said Mhlongo.