A drugs and substance abuse awareness programme was hosted at Emhlangeni Plot 8 this week as part of the international celebrations. The informal settlement was chosen as an area of need. Attending the programme led by City of Johannesburg (CoJ) was the settlement’s young and old who were not shy to pose questions to the guest speakers.
Together with local councillors, the CoJ Department of Social Development, Roodepoort Police and Gauteng Province Department of Social Development staff urged those in attendance to always be vigilant and stay away from harmful substances.
Roodepoort Social Crime Prevention Unit’s Constable Mbuli spoke about the dangers of drug and substance abuse as well as the growing incidents of human trafficking.
“As a parent, it can’t get dark outside and your children have not come back home or you don’t know where they are. It’s dangerous out there and if you are not vigilant, you will be a victim.”
She also showed some of the hand signals drug users and their dealers use to communicate with one another. She also explained some of the symptoms drug users show.
Social worker Vuyiswa Mbanjwa said they came to Emhlangeni Plot 8 as the residents requested information
“We as the CoJ Department of Social Development, we are here to give the community information about the effects of drug and substance abuse. This is a response to an Integrated Development Programme (IDP) consultation meeting with the residents during which they expressed their troubles of limited services and asked how they could assist in combating substance abuse.”
CoJ Regional Manager Dorah Mashita said each ward has committees which help to combat the issue of drug and substance abuse.
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