TURNING THE TIDE: YOUTH AND COMMUNITY STAND TOGETHER AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN STANDERTON

By Precious Mupenzi.

• Proactive Community Engagement: Youth-led debates, school campaigns, and community sessions during Anti-Drug Awareness Week show a collective approach to prevention.
• Government Support: Senior officials and multi-sectoral services on-site demonstrate a commitment to integrated service delivery and youth-focused solutions.
• Empowerment through Evidence-Based Interventions: The campaign aligns with global strategies that emphasise prevention, showcasing South Africa’s shift towards informed, long-term solutions to drug abuse.

“Breaking the cycle of substance abuse begins with investing in young people and strengthening communities at the grassroots level,” declared the Director-General of the Department of Social Development, Mr Peter Netshipale, as he addressed hundreds at Sakhile Stadium in Standerton on 26 June 2025.
Once a quiet township in the heart of Mpumalanga’s Gert Sibande District, Sakhile has become a frontline in South Africa’s battle against the scourge of illicit drugs. In just two months—April and May 2025—law enforcement authorities dismantled two large-scale drug manufacturing operations, confiscating chemicals and equipment valued at more than R20 million.
These alarming discoveries thrust the community into the national spotlight, revealing both the reach of organised crime and the vulnerability of local youth. A growing number of teenagers aged 10 to 19 have sought help for substance dependency, turning Sakhile into both a symbol of the crisis and a rallying point for action.
Against this backdrop, the Department of Social Development (DSD) commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) in Sakhile, aligning the observance with Youth Month—a time to reflect on the struggles, resilience, and aspirations of young people in South Africa.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, Mr Netshipale issued a resounding call to action. “Substance abuse is devastating our youth,” he said. “We are here in Standerton to reignite hope—a hope that must be supported by collective will and effort. We urge communities to speak out, report drug trafficking, and create safe, empowering environments for our young people.”
Mr Netshipale highlighted the growing prevalence of substances such as Lean, Hookah pipes, Nyaope, vaping products, and alcohol among youth—even in schools and informal gathering spaces. He warned that many of these harmful behaviours are increasingly glamorised, with some parents unwittingly enabling them.
“These substances don’t just lead to addiction—they fuel gender-based violence, high-risk sexual behaviour, HIV transmission, and long-term social and economic breakdown,” he said.
This year’s IDADAIT theme, declared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” under the slogan Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime calls for countries to commit to evidence-based drug prevention and recovery efforts. South Africa’s adapted message echoes this with a call to “Promote evidence-based strategies to strengthen drug demand reduction efforts.”
“Let us use this day not only to reflect but to act,” Mr Netshipale urged. “Our youth are watching. If we fail to protect and invest in them, we risk losing a generation.”
As part of Anti-Drug Awareness Week, schools across Mpumalanga implemented peer-led support groups, awareness campaigns, health talks, and debates aimed at building resilience and knowledge among learners. These school-based programmes were complemented by community engagements throughout the week—culminating in a strong, united stand at the Sakhile commemoration.

During the gathering, residents pledged to work alongside government to reverse the tide of substance abuse and restore the dignity and safety of Mpumalanga—fondly known as the “Place of the Rising Sun.”
“We must empower youth with facts and alternatives,” said a local youth development worker. “This generation doesn’t just need warnings. They need opportunities, mentorship, mental health support—and a community that believes in them.”
The commemoration drew high-level participation, including the Executive Mayor of Lekwa Municipality, Cllr. Sifiso Mngomezulu; UNODC Regional Representative, Dr Marie Jane Ong’olo; Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development, Ms Brenda Khethiwe Moeketsi; Free State MEC for Social Development, Ms Nokwanje Selina Leeto; and Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo.
A range of integrated government services was also delivered on-site through mobile units from the Department of Home Affairs, SASSA, and others—providing access to social services, identity documentation, and referrals for further support.