Douglasdale Police Station, together with the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) in Diepsloot and community volunteers from Daily Bread non-profit organisation, marked Women’s Month by equipping learners at Witkoppen Primary School with the knowledge and confidence to stand up against bullying and substance abuse.

Douglasdale Police Station commander Brigadier Veeshani Arikum said the initiative formed part of the station’s commitment to giving back to the community while investing in young people.

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“We identified Witkoppen Primary School as one of our projects for women’s month. We spoke to learners about bullying, encouraged them to report it, and afterwards handed out soup, rolls, and snacks. This will not be a once-off project, because we believe these children are the future leaders of our country.

“Bullying remains a serious problem in our society. It doesn’t only happen in schools – there is workplace bullying and cyberbullying too. These forms of bullying have contributed to an increase in suicides, especially among young people, which is why we wanted to encourage children to speak up and report it.”

Sanca volunteer Daphney Mulaudzi said educating children before they are exposed to alcohol and drugs is one of the most effective ways to prevent substance abuse.

“We chose to visit the school because learners need to be educated and empowered. Alcohol and drugs are easily accessible in our communities, and young people are naturally curious. We want to make them aware of the risks and consequences before they experiment.”

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Her colleague, Busisiwe Mapeka, said society often normalises alcohol use, unintentionally exposing children to unhealthy behaviours from an early age.

“Alcohol is normalised in our society and is often linked to celebration and happiness. Sometimes adults even give children alcohol during birthdays or holidays without understanding the long-term effects. That’s why education and prevention are so important.”

Mapeka encouraged community members who need help or guidance to seek support from Sanca in Diepsloot. “People can visit us at Sanca Diepsloot in Ext 10 or call us on 011 464 5108. We have social workers who are there to listen without judging, while empowering and educating people who need support.”

Learners also watched an educational drama performance, which used humour and relatable scenarios to teach valuable lessons about peer pressure, bullying, and making healthy choices.

“The script was led by Daphney, with input from all our facilitators and volunteers. Our goal was to make it entertaining while still delivering an educational message that learners could relate to and remember.”

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