The Sinoville SAPS has intensified its fight against substance abuse, calling on residents to take collective responsibility as drugs continue to affect young people and families across the community.

This comes after the Sinoville SAPS social crime prevention co-ordinator, Sergeant Gomolemo Modibane, together with the Visible policing commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sinah Sithole, conducted a drug awareness outreach at Grace Christian Fellowship Church.

The initiative formed part of ongoing efforts to curb substance abuse and educate residents about the dangers drugs pose to the broader community.

Sithole stressed that drug and substance abuse is no longer an isolated youth problem but a growing societal crisis affecting people across all social and economic backgrounds.

“Drug and substance abuse not only affects the youth, it also affects everyone, rich or poor. The drugs are destroying our community,” she said.

She urged parents to play a more active role in safeguarding their children, warning that excessive pocket money without supervision could unintentionally expose them to harmful influences.

“I plead with parents not to give their children too much money, as this might result in them buying drugs as a way of having fun and end up being addicted,” cautioned Sithole.

She further reminded residents of the services rendered by Sinoville SAPS and encouraged young people to become actively involved in positive community programmes designed to steer them away from crime and substance abuse.

“Youth must join the Sinoville Youth Desk and take part in programmes like Sport Against Crime to prevent themselves from falling victim to drug abuse and criminal activities,” she said.

The church service also saw Bishop Johannes Tause addressing the residents on the spiritual and moral implications of substance abuse.

Drawing from various Bible verses, he spoke about the importance of preserving one’s body and making responsible life choices.

“Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and therefore we need to glorify God in our body and not waste it by using drugs,” Tause told residents.

In a symbolic and emotional moment following the speeches, young people in attendance rose and walked to the altar, where they publicly took a pledge against drug use.

They committed themselves to fighting substance abuse and vowed not to become victims of drugs.

The pledge marked a powerful show of unity between law enforcement, faith leaders, parents and the youth in confronting the growing drug threat in Sinoville.

Tause expressed gratitude to the police for partnering with the church in the anti-drug campaign.

“We thank the Sinoville SAPS members for availing themselves to the church to stamp out the fight against substance and drug abuse among the youth and the community at large,” he said.

Modibane said the outreach forms part of Sinoville SAPS’s broader prevention strategy, focusing not only on enforcement but also on awareness, education and community collaboration.

He believed sustainable change can only be achieved when families, schools, churches and community structures work together.

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