Drug and alcohol awareness event to educate Sunnyside community
A drugs and alcohol abuse event was held at SunnyPark shopping centre on Thursday.
The Crime and Drug Free Foundation braved the harsh and cold weather to continue the fight against alcohol and drug abuse at Sunnypark shopping centre on Thursday.
The Hatfield-based body is a non-profit organisation that has been working in different communities in Gauteng to challenge social ills.
With the help of the Tshwane metro and the police, the organisation visits communities and schools to help people who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
“We are here today to warn young people, educate them and we help those who need to find rehabilitation,” said Tseliso Mojakisane, executive chairman of Crime and Drugs Free Foundation.
Mojakisane said that there were a lot of young people who had lost their livelihoods and ended up on the streets.
The Crime and Drugs Free Foundation partnered with the Gender-based Violence Brigades team to help make the event a success.
The Brigades were volunteers from different communities who aimed to assist the fight against the abuse of women and children.
Sunnyside ward 81 councillor Godfrey Mulaudzi urged community members not to be afraid to report drug dealers or places where they knew drugs were being sold.
“You do not have to report to the police (only). There are many organisations you can tell and we will pass it on to the relevant people,” said Mulaudzi.
“Let us not be scared to stand up against crime.”
Victim empowerment co-ordinator from the Department of Community Safety Joyce Moela said that they wanted people to know that help was available for gender-based (GBV) violence victims.
There are social workers and victim-friendly groups that assist victims at police stations.
Mojakisane thanked everyone who attended but expressed his disappointment to see a lack of male volunteers for the GBV Brigades, adding that more awareness campaigns needed to be done.
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