MEC’s campaign tackles drug use

The safety, security and liaison MEC, Joyce Mashamba, launched a Schools Safety Campaign at Capricorn High School on Friday.

The Schools Safety Campaign aims to ensure all schools are safe, that no danger, violence or any illegal activities happen in schools and that all schools are truly drug and alcohol free.

Mashamba was accompanied by SAPS and correctional services officials as well as municipal councillors.

“What brought us here today is a matter of grave concern to us all. It is a matter so grave it has the potential to destroy every chance of Capricorn learners to make the best of their lives and to work with us to move South Africa forward.

“The situation is such that the school is the target of drug lords. The drug lords use innocent learners to traffic drugs within the school.

“During 2012/2013 at least 10 learners were found in possession of drugs both as traffickers and users. Two of the learners were found to be highly involved with drug lords and the eight were found to be users,” said Mashamba.

“We appreciate the fact that the school went beyond applying its disciplinary code against these learners.

“The department’s involvement is because we view the problem of drugs as a societal problem that requires the involvement of all sectors of society.

“We are also here because we do not want to leave this issue until it is too late to do anything about it.”

Mashamba said government departments and other organs of the state were working hard to remove drugs from communities and schools.

“However, government and its organs alone cannot win the war against drugs. They need the active involvement of every sector of society. Our involvement will constitute a fatal blow against drug abuse,” she said.