William Simmers, co-ordinator, Mitchell’s Plain Community Advice and Development Project
We would like to take this opportunity to honour committed people for their courage and bravery to tackle one of the biggest social ills in our community – highlighting the Town Centre’s “hell hole” where locals and foreigners are selling tik, mandrax and heroin openly to our children and other vulnerable members.
Obviously they’re not worried about the consequences; ignoring the volatile impact on our family unit and spreading and infecting our community, while continuing the snowball effect of harming our people.
These community-minded individuals, who shared their knowledge of the harmful shady dealings happening within our shopping district and our home environment last week ought to be commended.
It is obvious that we need more people like these, ordinary mothers, who are willing to say enough is enough and do something about it.
Parents need to wake up and actively involve themselves with their children’s welfare, and more importantly ,educate their children on the dangers of drug abuse.
We need to be more hands-on and vigilant in terms of their behaviour and habits.
Youngsters have so much potential and can make a commendable difference in society, however, it is sad that they are becoming addicted to drugs.
We, as parents, and the community at large need to be part of the solution.
Drugs and alcohol are becoming a norm in many schools.
It is also very disturbing to note that there is a shortage of youth leaders and role models in our community.
We salute Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum (CPF) secretary and child rapid response unit (CRRU) co-ordinator Lynn Phillips, CPF Westridge sub-forum chairperson Bonita Wood, community activist Salama Micheals, her son Faghrie, and community activist Virginia “Ginger’”Voegt who braved the stares and disrespect they received by those harming our loved ones to create awareness of this illness within our communities.
We commend these mothers and crime watch personnel.
We believe the topic should be dealt with a holistic approach that includes public health, education, prevention and harm reduction in co-ordination with the authorities.
All of us need to do our part.
