MTUBATUBA COMMUNITY RALLIES BEHIND MEC SHINGA’S CAMPAIGN TO END SUBSTANCE ABUSE

By Sifiso Xulu.

• ⁠MEC Shinga promoted the expansion of rehabilitation services and the creation of supportive community environments.
• Personal testimonies, including from a recovering young person, encouraged others to seek help and inspired resilience.
• Broad stakeholder cooperation signalled a united front against substance abuse in Mtubatuba.

In a show of unity and determination, KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Social Development, Ms Mbali Shinga, led a community-driven anti-drug initiative in Mtubatuba in recognition of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Gathering at the Somkhele Community Hall in Ward 15, local leaders, traditional authorities, youth organisations, and individuals in recovery came together under the banner of “Break the Cycle,” committed to addressing substance dependency and organised crime in the region.
This campaign built on the momentum from last week’s Provincial Substance Abuse Forum in uMzumbe, where heartfelt testimonies from affected young people inspired a province-wide call to action. Among the stories that resonated deeply were those of two young men who bravely stepped forward to seek assistance, symbolising courage and the possibility of recovery.
MEC Shinga underscored the urgent need to expand access to rehabilitation services and encouraged communities to cultivate safe, supportive spaces for individuals seeking help. “When our youth are caught in the web of substance dependency, it is our shared responsibility to help them reclaim their futures,” she stated. “Through our departmental rehabilitation centres and social services, we stand ready to walk the journey with them.”
Her remarks struck a chord with Mxolisi Khuzwayo, a recovering substance user, who shared his experience. Cut off from his family and consumed by dependency, Mxolisi eventually sought help through the Department of Social Development and was admitted to the Newlands Rehabilitation Centre. “Acknowledging that I needed help was the turning point in my life,” he told the gathering.
MEC Shinga also appealed to faith-based organisations, youth groups, and traditional leadership to play an active role in steering young people away from drugs and toward healthier choices. She encouraged youth to take advantage of government programmes supporting job creation and educational opportunities.
“This is not just about rejecting drugs,” she concluded. “It is about opening doors to opportunity and walking with our youth toward a future free from crime and dependency.”
As the programme concluded, a renewed sense of collaboration and hope settled over the Somkhele community — a clear indication that Mtubatuba is ready to stand firm against the challenges of substance abuse.