Pretoria - Thousands of Eersterust residents on Friday gathered in a marquee, erected at the Sports Ground, to engage President Jacob Zuma and a Government delegation about the social-ills affecting their community.
The President held an Imbizo aimed at strengthening the fight against drug abuse in the area, and was accompanied by a number of Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Gauteng Provincial Government and Tshwane City Mayor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
The President said he visited the community because he wanted to hear their concerns unmediated, and work with the community to come up with solutions to their problem.
Representatives of the community, who engaged in a dialogue with the President and his entourage, called on government to root out drug lords who are taking over their community and destroying the lives of youth.
They told the President that the problem of drug abuse in the community is rife, affecting about 15 000 youth. They said most of the drug addicts were school learners who end up dropping out of school, lowering their chances of escaping poverty.
Community members said drug addicts end up involved in criminal activities such as housebreakings, robbery and rape to feed their bad habits.
They also pleaded with the President and political heads to provide them with infrastructure such as sports facilities, a multi-purpose community centre, a rehabilitation centre, a retirement centre and RDP houses, among others.
They called on police to strengthen their role in the fight against drug abuse and alleged that police have dealings with the drug lords, and that is why they don’t lock them away.
Following the concerns raised by the community, the President invited Ministers, the Deputy Ministers, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Mayor Ramokgopa to respond to questions relevant to their departments.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said allegations levelled against police would be investigated.
“These are serious allegations, they can’t be ignored,” said Minister Nhleko.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the Department of Basic Education will visit the two primary schools in the area that do not offer Grade R classes, to find out why there are no classes.
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana said 20 bursaries will be allocated to top learners from two high schools in Eersterust who come from disadvantaged households, to further their studies.
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi committed her department to partner with other departments and City of Tshwane to build a multi-purpose Community Centre in the area. Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini also said she will work with Minister Muthambi to build a retirement centre.
Minister Dlamini said Social Development spends about R10 million on Eersterust alone.
Mayor Ramokgopa said solutions to the problems facing the community are sitting with the residents, and they should come forth and help government address them.
He said R300 million had been allocated for youth cooperatives, and invited Eersterust youth to start their own cooperatives and help fight unemployment.
He said R15 million has been set aside for matric learners who produce outstanding results but cannot afford tertiary institution fees.
Ramokgopa said R50 million has also been set aside to fight the scourge of Nyaope in Pretoria.
The use of Nyaope and other drugs affecting young people in Gauteng is not only found in Eersterust but in many parts of the province. Premier Makhura said Operation Fiela will clean up Eersterust and will also close down illegal shebeens in the area.
Other interventions
President Zuma said police have been running operations aimed at arresting drug runners, the kingpins behind them, and other criminal elements operating in the community.
“About 69 crime intelligence operations have been conducted so far in the area and have led to the arrest of 55 alleged drug dealers. Police are further working with community based anti-crime organizations and security cluster partners in conducting awareness campaigns against drugs and crime in general in the area, as well as other operations such as schools campaigns, through police visibility, stop and search operations and other initiatives,” said the President.
He said the City of Tshwane has registered 1 024 indigent families from the community of Eersterust who are receiving free basic services, and during the road show held in July, the City also assisted 187 families who needed urgent intervention.
“The City has also donated recently R100 000 to two Early Childhood Development Centres in the community. The money is used to purchase groceries, toys, and the training of staff. This is in addition to various community services that the city provides to the community,” he said.
He said there has been interaction with the community regarding the shortage of housing, and measures that need to be taken to meet the challenge.
Youth development
The President said the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) will open an office in Eersterust before the end of November this year, to provide information to young people about education, career, employment and economic opportunities.
“The NYDA, working together with the City of Tshwane and the province, plans to implement a Youth Build Infrastructure Development Programme in Eersterust, whereby 100 young people from this community will build 100 houses to address the housing shortage. The 100 young people will be trained in house building, plumbing and carpentry,” he said.
President Zuma said the City will also engage with the community to build communal sports facilities, in a commitment informed by the long distance youth have to travel to reach sports facilities. - SAnews.gov.za
