POLOKWANE- Seshego Community Against Crime and Gangsterism (Scagag) is responding to the plight of rehabilitated drug users through a community reintegration programme.
Many of those whom the community has lost trust in after having being involved in crime to feed their addiction, were negotiated for by the non-profit organisation into drug rehabilitation services.
Now, the still fairly young residents assist in another programme – that of feeding impoverished families across some areas of Seshego, including Extension 76, next to the Matlala road.
Scagag leader, Vincent Kunutu says they have liaised with multiple shop owners, some of whom are foreign nationals, to contribute a range of foodstuffs including soup and mielie meal to see the project through. Although the former drug users are also fed from the same programme, the main benefit is to change society’s negative perspective of them and to channel their focus to meaningful activities in order to avoid relapse.
In some circles, community members react out of anger against those who steal to feed their drug habit.
But, says Kunutu, their plea is for residents to insist shift their focus to catch the druglords, instead of victimising drug users who are part of the community.
“Understandably, nobody can bear watching a perpetrator living scot-free after losing money or an item to that person. But the bigger picture here is to nab the kingpins. Scagag is worried about the type of future that we are bearing for Seshego, if that is the way we deal with things,” he said.
Last weekend, a man in his late 20s was murdered by a mob after being suspected of being involved in an undisclosed crime as a result of drug abuse, according to Kunutu.
“Imagine if the trend of losing your life, instead of fixing your life, continues. What would become of us in the township? Let us harness them towards a better direction and focus on exposing the druglords.”
He said often times, residents know the druglords. “We know them and they live amongst us. Send an anonymous tip-off to the police,” he concluded.
