Indeed, working together we can do more

- By Candice van Reenen

27 June 2011

20-26 June 2011 saw the commemoration of International Substance Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Awareness Week. This is an annual campaign which is recognized by countries around the world.

Mitchells Plain, a largely coloured township in Cape Town, has for a number of years been known as one of the areas that is plagued by substance abuse and the trafficking of illegal drugs. Just a few months ago, a study was conducted by an academic at a Cape Town university, on the usage of drugs amongst young people of this area. The results: shocking. It found that most young people of the area either have or will use some form of alcohol or drug.

Therefore, it seemed fitting that Mitchells Plain be the focus of a week-long intensive campaign in an attempt beat the scourge. The aim of this outreach was simple, educate, inform and refer. A number of activities took place, which included a formal launch of the annual campaign, which was attended by community organisations, government departments, law enforcement agencies and rehabilitation centres. Other activities included door-to-door campaigns, information sessions for organisations working within this environment and outreach campaigns at local malls.

All these events were very successful, and Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and its partners can pride itself on the fact that thousands of Mitchells Plain residents were reached through this campaign. Positive media coverage also proved this.

But perhaps the point that stood out the most was the excellent manner in which these results were achieved. This was attained by Government departments, the South African Police Force and a number of organisations, both funded and unfunded, coming together and presenting a package of ‘commitment-to-the-cause’. In communities plagued by various ills, whether its substance abuse, crime, poverty, domestic violence, it is apparent, that the only way to achieve true results and to create a force to be reckoned with, is to work together.

Now is the time for togetherness, now is the time to put aside personality clashes and red tape, because now is the time when communities need intervention the most. Let us do our best and work together to achieve more.

Ends

SCO - Western Cape
Candice van Reenen

Government Communication and Information System
083 243 3353
Candice@gcis.gov.za