GINSBERG COMMUNITY ENGAGED TO TAKE A STANCE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE
Buffalo City hosted the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) Community Dialogue in Ginsberg Community Hall on Wednesday, 18 June.

The United Nations General Assembly in 1997 officially declared 26 June as the International Day Against Drug and Illicit Trafficking.

Buffalo City Metro Local Drug Action Committee Chaiperson Councillor Melisizwe Tutu said: “We need to be strict in terms of compliance on closures of tarvens as well. The noise and non adherence to closures is a big problem”

The dialogue focused on topics which include, binge drinking and it’s effects, alcohol and it’s effects on family violence to mention a few.

Cllr Tutu added: "We need to act fast to avoid having another Enyobeni tragedy. We need to visit all illegal rehabilitation centres that end up traumatising our children. The United Nations also blamed us as the Municipality in terms of protecting children according to the Children Act, in that the tarven never closed on time and we together with the Liquor Board should have made sure that did not happen.”

“We need to also work hand-in-hand with NSFAS as children at universities trade the money they receive from the institution to buy alcohol, and this has caused a huge increase in GBV cases as people end up drinking and boys even forcing themselves on girls”

“As the municipality we are here to say we stand firm with the stakeholders present here today in fighting this cause. Some students don’t even finish their degrees because of alcohol.”

Noxolo Bhase, from the Province of the Eastern Cape Social Development speaking on the purpose of the day said: “We are here today to come together to fight this big issue and killer currently taking over our children not just in our community but the country as a whole.”

“We also need to fight strongly against illegal treatment centers in our City that are not registered and end up causing more damage.”

“We need to take a grand stand on events also such as pensdown after school exams where we have seen the tragedies that have happened due to them. Our children drink alcohol and get raped, others end up missing. Some are found unalive.”

As part of the messages of support Buffalo City General Manager for Communications, IGR, IR and SPU Ondela Mahlangu said: “On 10 April 2025, the Executive Mayor for Buffalo City Princess Faku officially launched a new committee known as the Local Drug Action Committee to deal with issues of drugs, alcohol, illicit trafficking and GBV.”

“We have to conclude the process of setting up the committee till the committee is fully representative.”

"This is a fight, it’s a matter affecting all of us directly or indirectly it’s a war we need to fight. There are also other drugs such as sleeping pills that we need to look into, not just those that are famously known.”

“The evidence is clear, invest in prevention.”Break the cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime

 

 

2025-06-19