BY REGINALD KANYANE
KIMBERLEY- MEC for transport, safety and liaison in Northern Cape has embarked on a fight against alcohol and substance abuse programmes. Pauline Williams said it was very imperative to support a fight against the scourge.
“We have enhanced our alcohol abuse programme to focus more on children and youth. We have also ensured that our active participation in raising awareness in communities will pay dividends. As the department, we have also mobilised our community police forums (CPFs). We need the society to be more vigilant in addressing this matter at local level.
“We also want to reach-out to church leaders, artists and communities to get involved in the fight against substance abuse and gender based violence in our communities. It stops with me and it stops with you, we all have a role to play,” Williams said.
She said the inter-linkages of alcohol abuse and gender based violence wrecked many homes and families. According to Williams, people should not be bashful in addressing this matter.
“We need to address the challenges facing our communities head-on. Violence against women or gender-based violence remains a serious problem. Substance abuse is not only a challenge in society but a threat against democracy and a better life for all.
“Gender based violence is caused by a single act or systematic patterns of violence. It is a combination of several factors that increase the risk of a man committing violence and the risk of a woman experiencing violence,” she said.
-TDN
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