The Gauteng Department of Social Development and the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) mobilised residents to form a yellow human chain.
This was done to commemorate the United Nation’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Wednesday.
Themed Jozi Goes Yellow against drug abuse, the event started at Eldorado Park and went through Kliptown and ended at Regina Mundi.
The initiative was driven by Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko and it was aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drugs.
Rehabilitated former addicts and current users were given a chance to take part in the campaign.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is commemorated throughout the world every year on June 26.
It was initiated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to communities.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) nearly 200 million people are using dangerous substances such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics in the whole world.
The day has been commemorated since its inception in December 1987. The ten years from 1991 to 2000 were declared as the United Nations decade against drug abuse.
Soweto was joining the whole world in commemorating one of the important days of the year in fighting drug abuse.
The police and children, joined in on the commemoration as well wearing the colour yellow to encourage citizens to make a fresh start against the pandemic of drugs.
SANCA and the Department of Social Development were planning to break the current world record for the biggest Hoola-Hoop Human Chain of 600 people that was held in the City of Cape Town last year.
