Pretoria - The Gauteng Provincial Government has launched an anti-substance abuse programme to strengthen interventions to combat the scourge of drug abuse in Eldorado Park and neighbouring communities.
This follows President Jacob Zuma’s visit to the community last year in May, when a concerned parent wrote a letter about the serious problem of drug abuse.
Since then the provincial government has developed and implemented an integrated programme of action.
Unveiling the programme, aimed at providing additional anti-drug services to those already in place, Agriculture, Rural and Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said all spheres of government would proactively work together.
“This intervention is underpinned by the work of a Local Drug Action Committee that galvanizes support from all relevant stakeholders in society, these include amongst others the SAPS, faith-based organisations, community- based organisations, non-profit organisations and other critical stakeholders.
“This is a reputable structure, which is established in terms of our policy and legislative framework, such as the Substance Abuse Act and the Drug Master Plan,” MEC Mayathula-Khoza said.
The programme includes counselling, the Ke Moja buses, a parenting skills programme, the Bright Star programme, Addicted For Change Programme (A4C) and the removal of a graffiti.
Counselling and Ke Moja buses
MEC Mayathula-Khoza said the launch of the two busses would improve accessibility to social work services and interventions intended to benefit the youth in Eldorado Park, and the neighbouring communities such as Freedom Park, Slovo Park and Klipspruit. The busses will operate from 8am until 10pm.
“This step will ensure that those who are employed can also access services. The counselling bus will be manned by social workers [and] four youth facilitators - two per shift.
“The facilitators will engage the youth in activities that will keep them busy whilst empowering them with social skills and educating them about the negative effects of drugs and alcohol,” she explained.
Parenting programme
MEC Mayathula-Khoza said the parenting programme will assist in strengthening positive family bonds and ensuring that parents relate positively with their children as well as ensure that parents are more involved in the lives of their children.
Bright Star programme
The Bright Star programme provides early intervention and skills development services. Phase one of the programme targets children, youth and their families. The programme is being implemented at three sites; Eldoraigne, Willow Cresent schools and Mount Carmel Church.
“All the children who participate in the programme are assessed by suitably qualified professionals. The group sessions runs over a consecutive period of 15 days. Those who are chronically addicted and require intense treatment are referred to inpatient treatment centres.
“Upon exiting the programme, all the beneficiaries will enter the after care programme, where they will receive on-going professional support to enable them to maintain sobriety or abstinence.”
Addicted for change programme
The A4C programme emanated from the partnership launched by the Gauteng Provincial Government and the Jonathan Butler Foundation in an effort to fight alcohol and drugs abuse.
MEC Mayathula-Khoza said the programme targets children and youth to divert their attention from potentially destructive activities by engaging them in arts and music.
“This programme forms part of the substance abuse prevention and awareness campaign spearheaded by the Eldorado Park Local Drug Action Committee and has membership of 1000 youth. Their slogan is “I am the Change”," said the MEC.
Removal of graffiti
The MEC noted that negative graffiti messages can impact negatively on community members especially the youth.
The department will therefore involve the youth of Eldorado Park to remove negative graffiti and messages, replacing them with anti-substance abuse messages that continue to sensitise the community about the negative effects of substance abuse.
“The walls have been identified, a special product to remove the graffiti has been tested and volunteers have been identified. The messages are consistent with the Gauteng Provincial Government messages,” she said.
The MEC further urged communities to bring back the spirit of ubuntu by reporting all cases of abuse of women, older persons and people with disabilities, including children to social workers or any one in authority.
The provincial government has established a toll-free number (0800 33 33 88) linked to social workers in the Department of Social Development to assist with information and queries related to the programme. – SAnews.gov.za
