By More Matshediso
Pretoria - Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini will on Tuesday visit the Mamelodi community, east of Pretoria, in an attempt to curb drug and alcohol abuse by youth.
This after a team of community facilitators from her department recently learned that nyaope, an illegal drug, and alcohol abuse topped the social challenges facing the community.
“According to a local anti-narcotics organisation, Thandanani, up to 80% of households in Mamelodi East have a family member hooked on the highly addictive nyaope,” the department said.
Community members alleged that the drug is sold to their children, leaving youth futureless and uneducated.
Residents also blame alcohol and drug abuse for many social challenges facing their community, including teenage pregnancy, high levels of school dropout, child neglect, abuse of social grants and domestic violence.
During her visit, the Minister is expected to form a partnership with the community to fight against these social challenges, as well as find lasting solutions.
As convener of the Inter-Ministerial Committee against alcohol and substance abuse, Minister Dlamini will also be looking to introduce key interventions to curb alcohol and drug abuse in the area, said the department.
The visit forms part of Project Mikondzo, which is a service delivery improvement initiative that seeks to find swift and more innovative ways to respond to residents’ needs in the poorest areas in the country.
Project Mikondzo was launched last September and has entered its second phase. It will focus on improving integration of resources at national, provincial and local spheres of government. - SAnews.gov.za
