By Tholakele Makena.
- Call for Practical Interventions: Mayor Mngomezulu urged a shift from awareness campaigns to concrete, school-based interventions and community-driven solutions.
- The Department of Social Development has activated substance abuse forums and action committees within municipalities to ensure localised and sustained responses.
- Initiatives in Lekwa include door-to-door outreach, youth skills training, parenting workshops, and partnerships with NPOs tackling HIV, GBV, and social cohesion.
Cllr. Sifiso Michael Mngomezulu, Executive Mayor of Lekwa Local Municipality, has described drug abuse as not merely a local crisis but a global epidemic. Speaking at the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) held at Sakhile Stadium in Standerton, Mpumalanga, the mayor stressed the need to move beyond slogans and awareness campaigns to implement tangible, community-based interventions — particularly in schools — to safeguard children who are increasingly vulnerable to drug exposure.
Mayor Mngomezulu emphasised the need for strengthened collaboration among municipalities, government departments, and civil society organisations to combat the escalating drug crisis effectively.
He also underscored the critical role of whistleblowers in exposing illicit drug activities and called for robust measures to ensure their protection, framing it as a vital component of a comprehensive, community-driven response to substance abuse.
Joining him at the commemoration was Mr. Wilson Gustav, Chief Director for Restorative Services in the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development. He noted that the province has established active substance abuse forums and local action committees within municipalities to ensure continuous coordination and support. However, the province continues to grapple with structural challenges such as high unemployment, poverty, inequality, and crime — all of which contribute to rising substance abuse rates.
The engagement also showcased several initiatives underway in Lekwa Municipality, including door-to-door campaigns, school visits, parenting workshops, and community prayer services. In addition, skills development programmes are being offered through Gert Sibande College and youth centres in Sakhile and Sibukile. The province has also partnered with non-profit organisations to deliver HIV prevention education, child protection workshops, and broader community development services.
With only two registered substance abuse treatment centres in the province, Mr Gustav highlighted the importance of incorporating prevention, treatment, and social support in future programmes. Both leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to translating policy into practice, aiming to make Lekwa and the broader Mpumalanga region safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.
