Community vows to fight drugs

KABOKWENI – The local community has vowed to work hand-in-hand with the police in order to rid the area of the escalating scourge of drugs.

Speaking to Mpumalanga News, the founder of Laapeng Foundation, Ms Rassie Moimane, said she was very distraught to witness young people’s dreams going down the drain due to drugs and nyaope.

“Our township is no longer the same. Back in our days, young people focused and working hard to improve their lives, but the new generation are indulging in substance abuse.

“Currently we are conducting campaigns at schools where we teach learners about the bad impact of taking drugs and we also work with the police during raids at schools.”

She also appealled to parents not to give their children a lot of pocket money because some of them use it to buy drugs.
This publication learnt that Moimane decided to quit her profession of nursing at Themba Hospital to assist the community with young drug addicts as the problem has been escalating since 2009.

“After I realised that our children are becoming drug addicts, I decided to start this organisation.

“We are working with various schools in this area and surroundings because we are aware that now drug lords are targeting learners at schools,” she said.
She stated that the life expectancy of the young generation who indulge in drugs, is only 40 years as the drugs not only destroying their bodies but their lives too.

“As we are working with them on a daily basis, some of them when they are high, end up engaging in unprotected sex and contract diseases.

“Those who need serious attention are referred to Themba Hospital for further assistance. We are not only focusing on learners, but also assist adults who want to quit drugs.

“We want to solve the problem of street kids as we also discovered that what led them to the streets in the first place was drugs.
They want freedom to take it whenever they crave for it,” she concluded. Those who need help can contact 082-833-0547 and 082-698-0624