Department spearheads the fight against substance abuse

The fight against substance abuse in the province will be intensified this month. This is according to the MEC for the Department of Social Development, Nomsa Mtsweni.

During the official launch of Social Development Month in Middelburg lastweek, Mtsweni outlined her departmental programmes.
The department has committed itself to a number of initiatives to be covered this month, including fighting substance abuse in the province.

“We will continue providing information on how to get assistance for the victims, conducting community dialogues and raising awareness against the use of drugs especially to those who have not yet started.” Mtsweni went on to give feedback on the Ke-Moja Programme which was launched by the department in June.

“Families have since come forward to ask for help and the victims are now being rehabilitated. A group of young people was taken to KwaZulu-Natal by a certain pastor to also help them, and they are back now. I have seen them and I can confirm that there is indeed progress,” she said.

However, Mtsweni also acknowledged that they are faced with few challenges and they are at the verge of addressing them. “Since more people are responding to our call and coming out to seek help, we are now running short of space to place them.

We are working with certain stakeholders and trying to engage with the privately owned centres to get them to jump on board and help us assist our youth,” she added.

The department vowed to endorse older persons with more emphasis on the National Golden Games. “This programme was proposed as a mechanism that could improve older persons’ activities. It will also promote intergenerational bonding within the generation and help them embrace active ageing.

We aim to create awareness of the sociocultural needs for the elderly and promote coordination of local activities.” Poverty alleviation programmes through community nutrition and development centres (CNDCs) will also be spearheaded by this department with the help of other stakeholders such as the South African Social Security Agency and the National Development Agency (NDA).

“We will officially launch the CNDCs in several municipalities and the aim is allying vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, people with disabilities, unemployed adults and underprivileged who are not on any grants,” said Mstweni.

The department has decided to go the extra mile to get the public involved in the activities planned for this month by including a radio play that will help create awareness on other matters as well. “I am launching a radio drama which will be acted in siSwati for now.

It will air on Ligwalagwala FM from October 15 to November 4, and I appeal to the people of Mpumalanga to tune in at 05:15 every morning. ”The exquisite and beautifully organized launch rounded up with stunning cultural performances, poems, and presentations about crime within our communities from high school learners from Gert Sibande, Ehlanzeni, and Steve Tshwete Municipalities.

Gert Sibande stole the show by taking the lead and the number one trophy home. Mpumalanga will be hosting the 2014
National Golden Games in Mbombela Stadium on October 26 to 31, and the public is invited to come out in numbers to support.