Khanyisa Weekly Newspaper

02/07/2025

Prayer for Protection and Prosperity

02/07/2025

02/07/2025

27/06/2025

well received community members

MEDIA ADVISORY

25 JUNE 2025

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CONDUCTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMME ON THE DANGERS OF DRUGS IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

As part of this year’s National Drug Awareness Week, the Department of Social Development in collaboration with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) is conducting an extensive community outreach programme in communities under Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province from 22-25 June.

The main aim of this annual campaign is to educate, share information and engage communities in meaningful conversation about the dangers of drugs and associated health risks. This in line with the intervention pillars of the National Drug Master Plan—demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction. Guided by these pillars, the Department of Social Development’s interventions focus on prevention and treatment for substance use disorders to ensure recovery and rehabilitation to reduce the health and social harms associated with drug use.

Substance abuse levels in South Africa have continued to rise, with the age of first experimentation with drugs reportedly as young as 10 years. The report of a surveillance report conducted by the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) in 2024 provide ample proof of the severity and high prevalence of substance use and substance use disorders in the country.

The report further highlights significant increase in the number of persons admitted for substance use disorders, with alcohol and cannabis as the primary substances of use across all provinces. The trafficking of illicit drugs and significant involvement of transnational criminal networks in the drug trade adds to the enormity of challenges. This is corroborated by data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2024) that identifies South Africa as by far the largest market for illicit drugs entering the Southern Africa region.

Substance use and substance use disorders have a huge socio-economic burden, not only for the individual user but also their families and communities, as well as a major public health concern. In addition, substance use is a significant driver of gender-based violence.

Standerton in Lekwa Municipality, Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga has been chosen for the commemoration of IDADAIT 2025. It is located on the borders of Mozambique and the Eswatini Kingdom, and within close proximity of major national and regional roads, including the N4, N11, N12, N17 and the R40, making the area a major conduit for the manufacture of drugs and their illicit trafficking.

During April 2025, the Hawks' organised crime investigation unit working with Crime intelligence and advanced K9 units successfully arrested six suspects and recovered substances and machinery used in the manufacture of these illicit substances, worth R20 million on a farm in Standerton.

This was followed in May, by the discovery of an underground drug laboratory used in the manufacture of drugs on Rooikopen farm, in Standerton, which is testament to the fact that the area is a high risk area for the manufacture, distribution and trafficking of illicit substances.

The week-long programme will include visits to local schools, taverns, churches and community dialogues, culminating in the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is scheduled as follows:

📅: Thursday, 26 June 2025
🕙: 10h00-14h00
📍: Sakhile Stadium, Standerton-Mpumalanga Province

Watch live on the following virtual platforms:
DSDTV: https://dsdtv.org.za/live-stream/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/HLUn08COT5c?feature=share
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SocialDevelopmentZA/live_videos/

X: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1BRJjmQOEodGw

Members of the media interested in covering the National Drug Awareness Week activities can contact Ms Nomfundo Xulu on 0664806845 / [email protected] or Kanego Thete on 0614136884/ [email protected]

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Mr Bathembu Futshane on 0711621154 or [email protected]

25/06/2025

We all leave in a Spiritual World. The Body perishes, the Spirit remains in the family while the Soul journeys to its purpose.
*The Chosen SOUL | UMPHEFUMULO OKHETHIWE*

🌑 Episode 13: “The Mirror Between Us” | The Chosen Soul – Umphefumulo OkhethiweWhat if your greatest enemy... is you?In Episode 13, Eunice confronts terrify...

19/06/2025

Episode 12 | The Chosen Soul: Khethiwe has a strange dream of her grand mother fighting the dark forces. What message is her grand mother sending her? Watch full Episode here: https://youtu.be/MfIu19aQPNA

19/06/2025

The Chosen Soul - Episode 12: The battle lines are drawn as Eunice comes face-to-face with the haunting truth buried deep within her family’s legacy.: Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/MfIu19aQPNA

19/06/2025

The Chosen Soul | Umphefumulo Okhethiwe - Episode 12
The battle lines are drawn as Eunice comes face-to-face with the haunting truth buried deep within her family’s legacy.: https://youtu.be/MfIu19aQPNA

19/06/2025

We keep pushing. This time it's a 7-day home workout challenge to stay in shape after the Comrades Marathon. 💪

18/06/2025

🌟 Youth Day Message from the Executive Mayor 🌟

“As we commemorate Youth Day, we remember the fearless spirit of the 1976 generation — young people who stood up for justice, dignity, and the right to a better future.

Today, our youth face new battles such as unemployment, substance abuse, and more. We see your struggles, and we acknowledge the weight many of you carry. We also see your resilience, your dreams, and your power to rise above it all.

As the Gert Sibande District Municipality, we join government at large in our continued commitment to working tirelessly for a future where no young person is left behind — through programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering the youth with skills for the changing world, and enabling meaningful economic participation in line with this year’s theme.

You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You are the future.

From all of us at Gert Sibande District Municipality, Happy Youth Day!”

Cllr. Walter Mngomezulu
Executive Mayor – Gert Sibande District Municipality

13/06/2025

The arrangements are being finalized today

13/06/2025

GS movement
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