Addicts are no-shows at outreach programme

Wiseman Langa, the CPF projects coordinator, said the purpose of the meeting was to assist drug users to kick the habit.

“We were going to organise help for them so that they could go to rehab. From rehab there are companies that were organised to give them training so that they could have different skills that would be helpful to them in future. Big companies are there and they are willing to help them,” said Langa.

“We are very disappointed at the poor turnout but this is more of a loss to them because there were so many activities organised for their benefit,” said Langa.

He said if they help drug users they will minimise crime.

“House break-ins, stealing of TVs, plasmas as well as taps by drug users is happening every day in houses all over Vosloorus. If they had come, some of the crimes could have been prevented,” explained Langa.

Teboho Moloi, motivational speaker and also a recovering drug addict, said it is not easy to break the habit.

“What helps me the most are programmes like motivational talks I present in local schools. Involving myself in such programmes helps in my recovery process,” said Moloi.

He said he used to take the most dangerous drug of all – crystal meth (rock).

“Crystal meth is the most dangerous drug and is expensive. People are not aware of it because it is not common. I used to take it and I became very dangerous to my community because I became involved in crimes like hijacking and card crime. I was arrested quite a number of times,” said Moloi.

He said the last time he was arrested was in Edenvale, for card crime.

“Fortunately I do not have a criminal record because I was never convicted for any of the crimes I was arrested for,” he said.

He advised those who are still using drugs to come forward as soon as they possibly can.

“Drugs are not the solution, no matter the situation. All they do is worsen the situation you find yourself in and lead to crime,” he said.

Charles Mothoa, coordinator of community safety from the MMC office, said this was the first meeting where they were involved as the MMC office.

“I felt very bad as they failed to turn up. We really wanted to offer help.

“We have to come up with different strategies for our next meeting to make sure the addicts join us. I won’t give up on them,” said Mothoa.

He said the mistake they made was to call them to the police station.

“Most of them are involved in crime. That is why they did not come out. It was the biggest mistake we made and we will have to address it differently next time,” he said.

Langa pleaded with parents to bring their addicted children to the next meeting as they will benefit from the topics discussed on the day.

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