With only a few weeks to go before the festive season, the Chairperson of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Combating Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will take the fight against alcohol and drug abuse to Klapmuts, Western Cape Province.
Part of the IMC’s responsibilities is to coordinate government’s collective national efforts from prevention, community mobilisation, treatment and law enforcement amongst others.
In its efforts to reduce incidents of gender based violence which are often caused by abuse of alcohol and drugs, the Department of Social Development launched Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) – a 24-hour call centre.
The GBVCC, which has been named the Best Technology Innovation – Small Centre in the world at the Global Best Contact Centre Awards in Las Vegas on November 5, provides support and counselling to victims of gender based violence. As the Gold Medal Winner, this means the GBVCC is ranked number one in the world in its category.
Victims of gender based violence are encouraged to contact 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV), a toll free number to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling. Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
The event also serves to support the 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Child Abuse Campaign, which is held from 25 November to 10 December every year.
Recent community dialogues between Social Development and residents of Klapmuts indicate that there is a prevalent use of tik in the area which leads to high crime levels and gangsterism leaving many children exposed to this drug during early stages of their lives.
Older persons are also robbed of their pension grant by drug addicts and the money is used to buy drugs. It is alleged that there is existence of well established drug houses in the area which drug dealers use to sell drugs.
Tik is commonly sold as a combination of amphetamines and talcum powder, baking powder, starch, glucose or quinine. The drug changes users’ behaviour and some symptoms associated with usage of its usage and addiction range from loss of appetite, weight loss, aggression, anxiety, headaches as well as change in dress code.
Health professionals are also concerned about the devastating effects of this drug on the user which among its many effects induces psychotic symptoms, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there, and violence, making it a far more dangerous drug than most other drugs available in South Africa.
According to the 2013 research published by South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU), which monitors addiction trends among patients receiving treatment at specialist centres, “tik is the drug of choice in the Western Cape where nearly 28 percent of users at 32 clinics listed it as their primary addictive substance.”
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Klapmuts anti-substance abuse community event planned, as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Time: 12h00
Venue: Klapmuts Sports field, Stellenbosch - Western Cape Province
Media can RSVP by contacting Mr Jaconia Kobue - 073 026 1111 / jaconiak@dsd.gov.za or Justice Ditshego - 079 4977426 / justiced@dsd.gov.za
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
