North West MEC for Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Mme Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi today told hundreds of young people gathered at the Mothutlung Sports Grounds in Mothutlung near Brits that government is very serious in its efforts to rid the streets of illegal drugs and substance abuse.
'We are gathered here to reflect on the gains made by this government of the people in its efforts to rid the streets of the North West of drugs and drug lords in our march towards victory in the war against drug abuse', MEC Mokomele-Mothibi added.
She was speaking at the commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme for this year commemoration is, “The impact of drugs on health and the community.”
This commemoration is in partnership with the Madibeng Local Municipality.
MEC Mokomele-Mothibi said that of all the areas in the North West, Mothutlung has the highest addiction rate of nyaope amongst young people; nyaope is a deadly and addictive concoction of rat poison and cocaine.
Traditional leaders, Mayors of the Bojanala Platinum District and the Madibeng Local Municipalities, the North West Provincial Substance Abuse Forum, Substance Abuse Youth Organisations, Drug Action Committees, councillors, as well as residents of Mothutlung, Jericho, Maboloka and Letlhabile and other neighbouring villages attended the commemoration.
“Despite the existence of anti-drug trafficking laws in many of the United Nation’s member states, drug possession, sale and illegal use thereof continues to have a negative impact on the socio-economic status of many countries”, MEC Mokomele-Mothibi said.
She added that it has come to government’s attention that there is a high prevalence of nyaope-addicts in Mothutlung and “that is why we are using this day to intensify the war against drugs and those who sell these drugs to our people in this area”.
“We should all bear in mind that drug abuse is a worldwide phenomenon and it occurs in almost every country. Our country and more importantly, our province, the North West is no exception”, MEC Mokomele-Mothibi said.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was adopted in June 1987 by the United Nations’ Anti Drug Abuse Conference, that boldly proclaimed the world’s efforts to raise awareness of the fight against substance abuse and drug trafficking as well as to promote preventative measures all over the world.
For more information please contact the departmental spokesperson:
Vuyisile Ngesi
Cell: 078 800 4475
Tel: 018 388 2439
E-mail: vngesi@nwpg.gov.za or vngesi@gmail.com
