Soweto awareness event tackles crime, substance abuse and GBV
Various organisations and stakeholders joined forces in Soweto to educate residents about mental health, community safety, rehabilitation and social support services.
The City of Johannesburg Men Sector, in collaboration with Nyeleti Lighthouse and different stakeholders, held a voluntary initiative aimed at bringing awareness and education to the community on different social ills, including substance abuse, at SADAAC Hall in Meadowlands Zone 9, Soweto, on May 20.
Issues covered were gender-based violence, crime and drugs, as well as implementing effective interventions.
The aim of the gathering was to motivate vulnerable groups and raise awareness that could empower meaningful action towards rehabilitation in the community.
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Zakes Manda, founder of Nyeleti Lighthouse, shared that as part of the sector, this programme served as what they refer to as Indoda Wednesday.
“This is a movement where young men are empowered and are given the necessary tools and skills to be able to empower others and improve the state of communities,” said Manda.
Various topics were also discussed, including help for men, boys and people in communities, the importance of community safety, social work assistance for children, healthy living, skills development internships and learnerships and business opportunities.
Phumeza Makinana, a volunteer at FAMSA that deals with mental health services, shared that such programmes are important to have in communities because poor mental health leads to things such as drugs, abuse and criminal activities, hence they are there to also give out information in order for those battling with mental issues to not resort to such activities.
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Pamela Makhubo Makhaya, a social auxiliary worker for Johannesburg Child Welfare based at the Nthabiseng Thuthuzela Care Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, emphasised the importance of caring for victims while offenders are being disciplined.
“We offer victims of sexual violence support in the form of medical, legal, and counselling services, to reduce trauma and assist with the prosecution of offenders. It is also important that we bring boy children on board with such programmes and outreaches because they also face the very same social issues as women do and end up resorting to such acts,” said Makhaya.
Dr Zukisani Mxoli from Imbizo by Dr Zee, who was a keynote speaker, shared more information about the work the organisation does and outlined the seven pillars aimed at equipping communities with skills to deal with real-life issues affecting them.
The session was aimed at empowering both men and women in the community and contributing to the development of a stronger community.
