Riverside View community activist embarks on a mission help youngsters trapped in drug addiction

Riverside View community activist Godfrey Sinthumule believes that a war against drug addiction can be overcome if parents and community members join hands and work together.

He recently embarked on a mission to help youngsters escape the snare of drug addiction by taking them to rehabilitation centres and monitoring their recovery journey afterwards.

Sinthumule said a lack of resources will not stop or deter him from helping local youngsters who need to overcome addiction.

During Covid-19 lockdown, Sinthumule and local police helped youngsters who were involved in gangsterism to stop fighting each other and to go back to school.

Sinthumule said it pained him to see boys and girls in the community with a bright future getting addicted to drugs. “We started this programme a few months ago, taking these youngsters to private rehabs in order to help them escape addiction. Some of them were reluctant to come because they thought we wanted the police to arrest them.

“I must say however that I’m partly disappointed that some of those that I took to rehab a few months ago have since gone back to smoking but some went back to school. I’m of the view that lack of monitoring and resources were the reason some of them went back to drugs.”

He said he was positive that his mission will be successful as many parents were getting involved to help in the programme.

“I am positive that through this current programme, involving parents, we can help many addicts. I see the response from parents who are coming with their kids, committing to this programme.”

Details: Godfrey Sinthumule gsinthumule@gmail.com; 076 323 4627.

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