Youth office hosts dialogue
You need to have a dream for your life and if that dream fails, dream another one.
The Gert Sibande District Municipal Youth coordination office hosted a drug awareness, alcohol, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse dialogue at the Civic Centre last Wednesday.
Ms C. Mkhwanazi from the district municipality said the purpose of the dialogue was to address social ills and fight the scourge of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse.
She encouraged the youth to attend meetings aimed at assisting them and to participate actively in programmes and meetings organised by the Local Economic Development, because they are meant to establish the needs of the youth and thereby have an input in the municipal budget.
She also encouraged the youth to go to school.
Youth coordinator Trevor Nkosi spoke harshly to the youth who always expect handouts from government, while they just sit around expecting things to happen.
“Each one of you must stand up to make things happen for yourselves. Time waits for no man and the government has various departments and programmes to assist the youth,” said Mr Nkosi.
He also warned lazy councillors that only get involved in youth issues when they are looking for their votes and support and immediately disappear afterwards.
He said the days for lazy councillors will soon be over.
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana striker, Nkosinathi “Chippa” Nhleko, spoke about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse. Referring to his professional days, he told the crowd of how substance abuse destroyed some of his team-mates’ careers.
“You need to have a dream for your life and if that dream fails, dream another one, until you realise one of your dreams. “Education should be the pillar of your life,” said Nhleko.
Major Thela from the Ermelo Police encouraged the youth not to keep information from them, as policing is everybody’s responsibility.
Also present were recovering drug addicts from the Mkhondo Rehabilitation Centre who shared their stories with the crowd.
Isaac Thubane, representative from the National Youth Development Agency, explained the different opportunities available to the youth and how to access various forms of funding.
The Department of Health and the Department of Social Development also had an opportunity for presentations.
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