Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) hosted a major drug awareness programme to keep drugs off the streets of Randfontein.
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Various professionals, motivational speakers and victims spoke out about the problem and how to fight against it.
MMC for Public Safety Duduzile Mbalula explained the programme allows working with police and other authorities to help keep drugs off the streets.
She added the programme also gives the victims of substance abuse a chance to be rehabilitated while developing skills to reinforce themselves in a working environment. These skills can then also be used to help them when finding a job. She also stated they are working with social workers.
“These types of crimes are just too much.
Even in schools, children are being bullied due to substance abuse,” Mbalula emphasised.
Founder of Induna Community Empowerment, Sipho Vincent Nzimande, spoke out about his experiences with substance abuse.
“I was 13-years-old when I started using drugs. After my whole body broke down, I had to stop. That was when I turned my life around,” Nzimande admitted.
He now does outreaches through his non-profit company (NPC) called Induna Community Empowerment. He said he uses the Six Weeks, Seven Days and Six Months Programme to help addicts recover.
“The programme consists of six weeks’ rehabilitation, seven days of motivation camp and six months of skill development. When you are addicted, the best way to recover is by limiting access to drugs. The authorities can make sure to limit drugs so that it is easier to recover,” he concluded.
