Picketing for a change in our communities
Newclare Primary learners march against drug use.
The Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) is working in the community to raise awareness of drugs and crime by picketing once a month. Chris Viviers is the community educator at EMS working for Region B stationed at Randburg Fire Station.
“The goal for the pier department where I’m working is to reduce the number of calls that the ambulances and fire engines are called out to. We do this by doing various safety programmes in the communities.
For the past two years or so, we have witnessed a whole lot of killings and drug-related deaths in and around Westbury,” said Viviers.
While the ambulances from Johannesburg EMS were responding to these shootings and other drug-related emergencies, Viviers said that they realized that they did not have a drug awareness and crime awareness programme in place.
Although it wasn’t their core purpose the team wanted to do something about the drug and crime issues in the area.
“During September I met Welcome Witbooi from the Foundation Clinic in Oaklands. We met a Johannesburg City event for Drug awareness. I told him about Westbury and the drug-related problems. I also told him that I want to do something to help in this area and that I do not have the knowledge and the time to start a new programme,” explained Viviers.
Witbooi and his team from Ubuntu Action Community Trust got involved and assisted EMS in their quest.
“We then had meetings with all the principals in the area to get inside information on the problems around these issues. We then took all this information to a meeting to work out a strategy.
“We decided to have workshops with various age groups to empower them on issues around drugs, crime, gangsterism, and violence,” added Viviers.
According to Viviers, the staff from Ubuntu will be hosting workshops. As part of the anti-drug and anti-crime campaign, the principals decided to embark on a picketing protest to take place once a month at all six schools in Westbury and Claremont.
“It is a way for them to say enough is enough. It is a way to tell residents of Johannesburg to look what crime is doing to us. Like that girl in the photo says: ‘We are scared! Stop! Look what the crime and the bullets are doing to our area,” explained Viviers.
The schools involved are Westbury Primary, Westbury Secondary, Newclare Primary, Everest Primary, Dowling Primary and Claremont Primary. The next picketing will be on March 23. EMS and Ubuntu will start with Peer Recovery Coaching for adults (parents) at Newclare Primary School on March 10.
