In an effort to raise awareness in Vredefort on substance abuse and gender-based violence, various stakeholders took hands in hosting a Women’s month celebration under the theme, Empowered Women Empower Other Women. The event, held at Vredefort Multipurpose Centre, specifically focussed on engaging with the community not only on substance abuse, but also on the services they offer to victims of substance abuse, and their affected family members.

Members of Vredefort SAPS and the Tumahole Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit (FCS), together with representatives of Ngwathe Municipality, CPF, Department of Social Development, Free State Care in Action, SANCA, FSCA Department of Health, Department of Education, Legal Aid SA, and Road Safety, emphasized that the community should work together with  stakeholders in the fight against substance abuse and gender-based violence.

Constable Sehume from Tumahole FCS addressed the community on women’s safety and security, raising awareness on common cases that they deal with in Vredefort, including child neglect and missing children, as well as rape cases.

Sehume encouraged parents to look after their children at all times, and urged rape victims to report the case as soon as possible to the police. She discouraged women from walking alone at night.

Three affected family members then courageously took turns giving their testimonies on how their children overcame the addiction of drugs, and how some still deal with their children who are addicted.

About 100 community members were reached, and pamphlets on substance abuse were distributed.

A huge thank you to Free State Care in Action who did the catering.