Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini to host event to mark Reclaiming of ‘Whoonga Park’, launches Festive Season Anti-Substance Abuse Campaign
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will host an event to celebrate the community’s reclaiming of Albert Park in Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Durban, now referred to as “Whoonga Park”, as well as launch the Department’s Festive Season Anti-Substance Abuse Campaign.
Various government role-players, including the Department of Social Development, NGOs, Police and the eThekwini Municipality have been involved in a campaign to rid Albert Park of vagrants who have lived in the park.
The vagrants had begun a crime spree in the Park and surrounding areas, making it a no-go area for passing workers and Durban University of Technology students. Many of the vagrants were arrested for being involved in various crimes, including being in the country illegally, possession of drugs and of illegal weapons. Others were sent to drug rehabilitation centres.
The event will be hosted as part of World Population Day 2015 celebrations under the theme “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies”. Among others, the Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of countering the effects of substance abuse and circumstances surrounding substance abuse.
The 2014 World Drug Report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime states that South Africa is believed to be a major consumer drug market. Substance abuse is closely related to the ongoing vulnerability of young people and women, especially young women, to violence, exploitation, sexual abuse and because of social factors, unwanted teenage pregnancies and HIV infection.
The hazardous and harmful use of alcohol and drugs during the festive season is also a contributing factor to death resulting from the reckless behaviour – such as drunk-driving – of intoxicated people.
The Department of Transport has reported that 1,118 fatal road accidents were recorded between 1 December 2014 and 5 January 2015 and 1,368 fatalities. Estimates made of the combined tangible and intangible costs of harmful use of alcohol to the South African economy reached nearly R300 billion or 10–12% of the 2009 gross domestic product.
The event will also therefore serve as an awareness raising campaign on the dangers of substance abuse during the festive season, as well as encourage those who are caught up in various drug addictions, mainly youths, to seek rehabilitation and assistance with reintegration into society.
Through the event government will showcase the success of Operation Fiela-Reclaim targeted at areas that were pointed out to government by the communities as drug infested.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event, scheduled as follows:
Date: Thursday, 17 December 2015
Time: 11h00
Venue: Albert Park, Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Durban
Media can RSVP with Mr Jaconia Kobue on 073 026 1111 or jaconiak@dsd.gov.za
Enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
Email: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
