LIMPOPO – Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has revealed alarming statistics on substance abuse, bullying, teenage pregnancy and gangsterism affecting learners at five of the Vhembe East Circuit’s most prominent schools.

Ramathuba was speaking during a Teenage Pregnancy, Substance Abuse and Antibullying Campaign at Raluswielo Secondary School in the Thulamela Local Municipality on August 14.

Stats “should disturb every one of us”

“I became deeply concerned by reports of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, bullying and gangsterism involving learners. Those concerns have since been confirmed by reports from this circuit and what they reveal should disturb every one of us,” said Ramathuba.

According to Ramathuba, a report covering Mbilwi, Mphaphuli, Nthetsheleseni, Phaswana and Raluswielo secondary schools found that 60 learners had been identified as abusing substances, 81 had been reported as victims of bullying, 26 were pregnant, and 22 had been linked to gangsterism.

“These are only the reported cases,” she said. “We do not know how many more children are suffering in silence, too afraid to speak out or too ashamed to ask for help.”

Ramathuba described the figures as more than statistics, saying they represented “classrooms interrupted, families in distress and communities under siege.”

Premier points to drug accessibility

The Premier said substance abuse was often the starting point for other social problems affecting learners, warning that experimentation with drugs and alcohol could quickly lead to violence, gangsterism, bullying, poor academic performance and teenage pregnancy.

She pointed to Thohoyandou, Sibasa and surrounding communities as areas where drugs had become easily accessible, and called on law enforcement to intensify operations against drug dealers operating in the area.

“Drug dealers continue to operate in our communities because too many people know who they are but remain silent,” she said.

Academic research into substance abuse among Limpopo’s rural school learners has consistently linked early drug and alcohol experimentation to poor academic performance, school dropout and teenage pregnancy. Studies have also pointed to a lack of recreational facilities and youth programmes in rural villages as a contributing factor, with adolescents turning to substances out of boredom.

Named gangs recruiting learners, says Premier

Ramathuba also raised concerns over gangsterism in schools, naming groups including Gidis, Miluwani, Italian Boys and Bakani na Zwezwo as being involved in recruiting learners into criminal activity.

“Our learners should know that schools are places of learning, not recruitment centres for gangs,” she said, adding that government would work with law enforcement to ensure those responsible for recruiting children into gangs were arrested and prosecuted.

Call for collective response

The Premier called for a united response from parents, educators, traditional leaders and community organisations, urging parents to reclaim their role as their children’s first teachers and educators to identify early warning signs.

Addressing learners directly, Ramathuba urged them not to see drugs, bullying, gangsterism or early pregnancy as markers of status or adulthood.

“Never be afraid to seek help, because asking for help is a sign of courage, not weakness,” she said.

The event was attended by MEC for Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, Vhembe District Executive Mayor Miyelani Chauke, Thulamela Local Municipality Mayor Sara Rambuda, and Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers, among other officials and traditional leaders.