Youth pull out of the stops to put end to drug abuse in Sunnyside
Sunnyside has over the years become the city's crime and drug hub.
The Sunnyside youth crime prevention desk is hellbent on chasing drugs and crime out of the area.
Secretary, Vukosi Mathale told Rekord that the desk was working hard to ensure that Sunnyside returned to its old form.
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“We want it to be a haven that it was before drugs and crime destroyed our youth,” said Mathale.
Last year the, Mathale and his team started a campaign to educate young people about the dangers of substance abuse.
The awareness campaign, which took the form of a cocktail of motivational talk, poetry readings and entertainment was hailed a success.
“We managed to get members of the SAPS, CPF, Department of Community Safety (DoCS) and Tshwane metro police on board. They talked about the challenges they as the police face while working in our area,” said Mathale.
Sunnyside has over the years become the Pretoria’s crime and drug hub.
A resident, Maria Shetowa, said she was happy with the work done by the desk and police.
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“It’s a good thing that they are working hard, putting their lives at great risk to police our neighbourhood and restore some security.”
But Shetowa said the efforts of the desk and the police were going into the drain.
She said people who sold drugs and were responsible for all the crimes were mostly foreigners.
“Our country is open to everyone who lives in it. We can have millions of marches, substance abuse awareness campaigns and workshops but if the government [keeps] inviting people to this country of ours, we will suffer,” she said.
Mathale said: “Through a wide variety of community-based initiatives and activities, we help raise awareness and dialogue around crime and crime prevention.”
He said said the link between the SAPS and the desk had helped to create a channel of communication between the police and youth networks in communities.
“Previously, the SAPS had difficulties accessing schools and had a confrontational relationship with the youth.
“The youth desk has helped to build trust and create a collaborative environment for the police to identify problematic young people from a preventive perspective.”
Mathale said the desk planned another campaign for 5 May at Sunny Park shopping centre in Sunnyside.
“We hope young people [will] attend in number and would heed the massages relayed to them. We want them to stop using drugs for the restoration of our community.”
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