Free Ferndale from drugs

Community members of all walks of life marched through Ferndale on Youth Day to protest against and raise awareness about drug use in the area.

Local residents heard the sound of drums as members of the Ferndale Residents Association, the police, local government officials, the Golden Harvest Seventh-day Adventist Church and other churches all took part in marching 6.5km from the Seventh-day Adventist in Pine Avenue, down Malibongwe Drive, and back again.

Youngsters lead the way, beating their drums and carrying banners against the use of drugs.

One of the organisers of the event, Valerie Mhundwa, said, “We wanted to have a health walk for the community on the public holiday, but we thought, as it is Youth Day, why not raise awareness about important issues that are facing the youth, such as drugs. This event is saying ‘no to drugs’ in our area.

“Drugs are a problem in our area and on the whole for Randburg, and this is our way of making a public declaration against it.

Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood said, “Drugs are a major problem in Randburg, and whatever awareness we can raise against it is a wonderful thing. This is an issue that is sadly plaguing our young people.”

Randburg police’s social crime prevention officer Sergeant Dipuo Maphanga said, “We are planning to have other drug awareness campaigns in other sectors, and this is the first one. Under the divine intervention programme, religious groups, community members and the police come together to pray for an intervention against the crime plaguing out country.

“We want to have a free Ferndale. This means no drugs and other forms of social crime affecting our vulnerable youth.”

The group aims to make this an annual event.

Mhundwa said, “It is a great way to get together and socialise to meet our fellow community members, and we hope that more Ferndale residents join us again next year.”

Related article:

https://www.citizen.co.za/randburg-sun/368377/youth-day-6-shocking-truths-south-africas-youth/