THE issue of drug abuse took centre stage at the Youth Day celebrations at Mahwelereng Stadium last Sunday.
The celebrations commemorated the events of June 16 1976, when learners took to the streets of Soweto to protest against Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.
During the celebration, Mogalakwena mayor, William Mabuela, explained to the young people present that drug abuse destroyed lives and caused poverty.
He said government was aware that there were still many challenges on the road to a drug free society, despite the progress that they had made thus far.
Mabuele said one of the main weapons in the fight against drug abuse was education.
“Education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world.
“Education is the key to economic emancipation.
“The youth of 1976 understood this and it was for that reason that on this day 38 years ago, young people from communities around Soweto began a peaceful march with the intention to voice their views about the state of their education,” he said.
The mayor emphasised that young people needed improved access to quality education and skills in order to meaningfully participate in the economy.
“There is no better way to confront challenges than to confront them head on with the sole purpose of bringing all our people out of poverty and to create much needed jobs for them to be economically liberated.
“We are aware that the young people of our country are being exploited in the protests for service delivery.
“We call on young people to resist this exploitation and focus on their education and uplifting their lives,” he said.
Mabuela voiced his anger towards people who resort to burning a clinic, because they do not have a school or destroy a library because the taps have run dry.
He said it was easier to destroy than to build, but that every facility was an investment for future generations.
The celebration was attended by the ANC Youth League, Red Cross, South African Police Services and Folang Trust.
