Red Cross marches against drugs in Mokopane
Red Cross joined forces with the Mogalakwena Municipality on Friday when they marched against drug and substance abuse.
MOKOPANE – Drug and substance abuse remains a growing problem in South Africa and the South African Red Cross Society takes a stand against it with all their might.
Red Cross joined forces with the Mogalakwena Municipality on Friday when they marched against drug and substance abuse from the Mahwelereng Shell garage to the Mahwelereng Stadium as part of their health and care programme.
A memorandum was handed over to Mogalakwena Municipal Mayor, Andrina Matsemela, to double their initiatives to fight against drugs and substance abuse.
Law enforcement are battling the scourge of uniquely illicit street drugs such as nyaope and other substances and Red Cross Society has a role to empower young people to stay away from this defect.
This march was focused on bringing about behavioral change in order to make people aware of the negative effects associated with the supply and use of drugs in the community.
After the march a soccer tournament was held for schools in the area.
According to the South African Red Cross Society’s Provincial Manager, George Mamabolo, the marching team made sure to march in the streets where the suppliers like to sell.
“This has to stop. Someone has to take on the problem because it is only getting worse.
“High schools are full of drugs, in townships as well as rural areas.
“We are not ashamed of marching against this poison, because suppliers must have a conscious and realise that what they are doing is destroying the lives of beautiful young people with a bright future ahead of them,” Mamabolo said.
He further said that South Africa is perishing because of small things like this and explained that drug users will never have a sharp mind to think, a clear mind to study and they will never be leaders.
“Nyaope is killing our youth week in and week out.
“It is sad that on Sunday one young male addict died near a shop. We call on everyone to bring their children and every nyaope victim to be rehabilitated so they can be assisted in the fight against substance abuse.
“We have a plan of building the rehabilitation centre and with the grace of God we pray that this dream comes true,” Matsemela said.Red Cross hopes to join forces with Mogalakwena Municipality in advocating and strengthening support measures on three key strategic objectives for drug control purposes namely supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction.
