Community urged to aid fight against drug abuse

The community of Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, are urged to aid police in the fight against drug usage at schools in the area.

“Various schools in the vicinity have been experiencing a sharp rise in substance abuse,” police spokesperson Mapula Rikhotso said.

“The community is encouraged to mitigate on the issue at hand by intensifying community patrols to ensure that dealers do not have direct access to learners and are kept away from schools,” Rikhotso said.

She added that police specifically put programmes such as ‘adopt-a-cop’ in place to assist educators to ensure schools remained safe and secure environments for them and their learners.

Meanwhile, acting station commander Colonel Thobane said police officers and community members had to work hand-in-hand to win the fight against drug usage in schools.

Suspicious activities could be reported to the police on 08600 10111 or at the station on 012 385 1101 or by dialling 112 from a cellphone.

Earlier in the week, learners at the Royal Schools Queens Private, west of Pretoria, were sensitised about drugs and bullying along with the effects thereof by Pretoria West police’s social crime prevention unit.

Police spokesperson Constable Sibongile Vuma said the officers were accompanied by community safety members, the local CPF and the social auxiliary team from Sithuthukise Bonke Crisis Centre when they went to the school on Monday.

“The point of the visit was to remind the learners about the importance of staying away from criminal activities and encourage them to stay in school, instead,” she said.

Vuma explained they were called to the school after they [the school] noticed that some learners were reportedly smoking.

“We informed them about the disadvantages of getting involved in smoking dagga and drugs along with the consequences of getting involved in such activities,” she said.

She added that the grade 7 to 12 learners were also given pamphlets with additional information.

“The SAPS also informed them of the consequences of having a criminal record in society and how it would affect them academically when they wanted to further their studies and how it reduced their chances of employment as a graduate,” Vuma said.

She said the learners were also encouraged to prioritise their academics, adding that they also wished them the best of luck in their studies.

“The learners were advised to focus on their books and adhere to school rules,” Vuma said.

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