SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT LEADS MULTI-SECTOR RESPONSE TO DRUG ABUSE IN LEKWA MUNICIPALITY

By Nonhlakanipho Masola.

• ⁠Integrated Service Delivery: Government departments have collaborated to provide essential services, such as social grant administration, healthcare, education, and legal documentation, in a single accessible location, easing the burden on residents.
• Community Concerns on Drug Abuse: Residents, including young individuals, expressed their concerns regarding the increasing prevalence of substances like nyaope and crystal meth, particularly among the younger population.
• Strengthening Community Awareness: The initiative provided a valuable platform to raise awareness about substance abuse and its impact on communities, laying the groundwork for increased youth engagement in future programmes.

In a concerted effort to tackle substance abuse and improve service delivery, the Department of Social Development, together with SASSA and the Departments of Home Affairs, Justice, Health, and Education, joined forces with various partners to deliver critical services to the people of Lekwa Municipality, Mpumalanga. The integrated outreach was part of the national commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT), aimed at addressing drug-related challenges while improving public access to government services.
The initiative was designed to bridge service delivery gaps by offering residents a one-stop platform to access key government interventions. Among the attendees was 29-year-old Andile Mofokeng, a local resident of Standerton, who took the opportunity to update her daughter’s SASSA “ard. “The SASSA offices are quite far from where I “live,” she explained. “When I heard the announcement over a loudspeaker the day before, I knew this was my only chance to sort it out.”
While grateful for the support received, Andile raised concerns about the growing drug crisis in her community. She highlighted the widespread abuse of substances such as nyaope, dagga, and crystal meth, especially among young adults. She recalfriend’siend’s recovery journey from addiction, made possible through community efforts in exposing local drug dealers. However, she lamented the low turnout of young people at the commemoration. “It’s the youth who need this awareness the most. Sadly, I saw mostly elderly people in attendance,” she said, questioning whether the event would effectively reach its target audience.
The commemoration underscored the urgent need for inclusive community mobilisation, particularly among the youth, to address the escalating drug epidemic and ensure that services reach those most in need.