The SAPS and various stakeholders gathered at Silumaview Park, Katlehong, to conduct a substance abuse campaign on November 24.
The purpose of the campaign was to address the youth and children who use public parks as their smoking and drinking spots.
Katlehong SAPS Vispol commander Col Pieter Erasmus along with communications officer Capt Mega Ndobe and SAPS partners, including VEC, CPF, patrollers, domestic coordinators and social crime-prevention coordinators were among the speakers who shared the centre stage.
Other organisations present included Community Safety, Ekurhuleni Social Development, EMPD and other non-profit organisations.
The chairperson of Kathorus Local Drug Action Committee (KLDAC), Moses Gama, said as a community, they are aware that they are affected and impacted by the sage of drugs and alcohol abuse. He also invited those who needed help to come forward and make use of the available support structures.
“If you are not the one addicted to drugs and alcohol, there is someone at home or a neighbour who is addicted to one of the two and their behaviour will affect you one way or another,” Gama continued.
He said the executive mayor of CoE must ensure that she appoints a committee that will facilitate, coordinate and support the community with programmes to avoid working in isolation.
“One of our challenges is that we are working in isolation. We are competing among each other instead of complementing each other. We are urging everyone to join hands. This thing is not a contest but it is about impacting lives,” said Gama.
Another Katlehong SAPS communications officer, Const Sivenkosi Mtwa, said they had different activities, like aerobics, dancing and performances by different groups of young people during the event.
“Some of those activities were sending a strong and straightforward message to the audience that attended the event,” said Mtwa.
Need help with drug and substance abuse?
KLDAC is urging affected people to visit at Katlehong Family Skills Centre at office 5 at 555 Moseu Street, Tsolo Section, or Khotsong Nurses Homes at 2013 Khotso Street, Nhlapho Section, Katlehong, from 09:00 to 15:30.
KLDAC is calling on residents to support the #UmnikeloDrive to realise the #OneKasiOneTreatmentCentre.
Gama said the #OneKasiOneTreatmentCentre is a clarion call for support from adequately resourced in-patient treatment centres, halfway houses and aftercare programmes within the Kathorus townships and rural areas.
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