The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will visit Mamelodi - east of Pretoria - on 19 August to address the high prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse in that area, especially nyaope.
A team of community facilitators from the Department of Social Development recently conducted dialogues with Mamelodi residents in order to learn about their social challenges. Topping the list of burning issues raised by the community was alcohol and drug abuse.
According to a local anti-narcotics organisation, Thandanani, up to 80% of households in Mamelodi East have a family member hooked on the highly addictive nyaope. Community members say the drug is sold to the community’s children; as a result, the youth is rendered futureless and uneducated.
Community members also blame alcohol and drug abuse for the many social challenges facing that community, including teenage pregnancy, school dropout, child neglect, abuse of social grants and domestic violence, to name a few.
Minister Dlamini visits Mamelodi to engage the community on these social challenges as well as find lasting solutions.
As convener of the Inter-Ministerial Committee against alcohol and substance abuse, Minister Dlamini will also be looking to introduce key interventions to curb alcohol and drug abuse in the area.
The visit forms part of Project Mikondzo – a service delivery improvement initiative that seeks to find speedier and more innovative ways to respond to service delivery needs in the poorest wards in the country.
Launched in September last year, Project Mikondzo has entered its second phase and will focus on improving integration of resources at national, provincial and local spheres of government for better delivery of services, while continuing to provide immediate service delivery interventions where possible.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event which will unfold as follows:
Date: 19 August 2014
Time: 10h30
Venue: Stanza Bopape Sports Ground, Mamelodi
For media RSVPs, please contact Mr Justice Ditshego on 079 4977 426 or JusticeD@dsd.gov.za.
Media enquiries may be directed to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or lumkao@dsd.gov.za.
