Minister urges residents not to buy stolen items

SOCIAL Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini launched her department’s festive season anti-substance and alcohol abuse campaign in Nyanga telling those in attendance, mostly pensioners, to refrain from buying stolen items.

The festive season campaign seeks to create awareness and education among communities; promote a drug-free society and minimise the negative effects of alcohol and substance abuse on individuals and families.

Alcohol and substance abuse impacts negatively on the overall health and well-being of South Africans and costs government R38 billion a year.

“Stop buying TVs, watches, and everything without knowing where those items came from. We buy these items from drug addicts that have stolen them from their homes. Next time your expensive item will be stolen and sold,” said Dlamini to loud applause.

Dlamini told the crowd to avoid sending their children to buy alcohol for them. She said young women should not expect handouts from older men.

“Some mothers know their children don’t work but they accept groceries. These groceries are from blessers. Because we have raised our children to love money, now they don’t know when to say no,” she said.

Dlamini said it was important that the department work with faith-based organisations and NGOs. Referring to mothers, Dlamini said: “Listen to your children when they tell you that your boyfriends are (sexually) abusing them”.

The police also warned the participants that they will close shebeens operating until the early hours of the morning as they were the sources of crime.

Dlamini said: “People who sell drugs don’t give it to their own children but destroy children of other families.”

Nyanga police cluster commander Sizakhele Dyantyi said some of the reasons crime was rising in Nyanga were lack of jobs, poverty and “too many shebeens”.