The Minister of Social Development, Mrs Edna Molewa, will today, 24 February 2010, address a gala dinner of the 32nd South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) biennial general meeting in Johannesburg.
The organisation promotes the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug dependency. It is made up of 31 alcohol and drug help centres, providing over 39 satellite offices in all the nine provinces of South Africa.
This gathering will be held under the theme “Substance abuse in South Africa.” This as an important topic since the scourge of substance abuse continues to ravage our communities, with dire effects on many young people and families.
As a result, the minister will highlight government’s response to this problem, especially in dealing with its negative manifestations such as the targeting of school learners by drug lords, domestic violence, risky sexual behaviour and road accidents, among others. Importantly, she will highlight the importance of partnerships in dealing with substance abuse.
Amongst the people who will attend are all substance abuse stakeholders from across the country such as government representatives from national and provincial Department of Social Development, Education, Correctional Services, Health, South African Police Service as well as from all SANCA centres.
Members of the media are invited to cover the event as follows:
Date: 24 February 2010
Time 19h00
Venue: Kopanong Conference Centre
For media RSVP contact:
Simphiwe Sekhoto
Cell: 078 278 0781
For media enquiries contact:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Social Development
24 February 2010
