Roodepoort Police’s Social Crime Prevention Unit hosted a 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children awareness programme. The event was at Matholesville community hall and was attended by guests from local organisations such as Ubuhle/ Bontle Community Home-based Organisation, Soul City Institute for Social Justice and the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC). Matholesville residents as well as relevant stakeholders such as tavern owners were also invited.
Social Crime Prevention’s Constable Shumikazi Mbuli made a presentation about 16 Days of Activism and also urged the community to work together with police in rooting out social ills in Matholesville.
“Not just women and children are abused, men are abused too. But they keep quiet because there is a stigma attach to it. We officers are trained to face a myriad of problems and we work hard to make sure they are resolved. Residents must come forward with such problems. I know there is the stigma that police are corrupt, but not all of us are. We all love our work and we just want a safe environment,” she said.
LDAC’s Muzi Nkosi addressed the audience about the ways in which drug and alcohol abuse destroys a community.
“We fight against drug abuse because we are fighting for our safety.
We seek help for those in the community who struggle with addiction and become a hazard to themselves and others. We work together with law enforcement, and so many have been referred to rehabilitation centres. However, we as parents are to blame when our children are abusing drugs and other substances,” he said.
Nkosi gave an example of serving liquor at a toddler’s birthday party and how that is already grooming the child to see alcohol as something to use to have fun.
Many residents were outspoken and one of them, known as Selena, said she was tired of the social ills plaguing the community and urged the police to take up the matter.
“Unemployment leads to prostitution, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Some women would go to taverns without any money because they know they will repay the buyer with sex. It’s those kinds of problems that are destroying our community,” she said.
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