Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 Source: Cape Times (South Africa) Copyright: 2004 Cape Times Contact: http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=280&fSetId=166 Website: http://www.capetimes.co.za/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2938 'CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 10 ARE GETTING HOOKED' Residents of New Woodlands in Mitchell's Plain took to the streets on Sunday to protest against druglords and tik, the latest drug craze. About 400 marchers, including mothers with toddlers, supported by People Against Gangsterism And Drugs (Pagad), vented their anger by shouting anti-drug and anti-gangster slogans and urging curious spectators to join the protest. Also on Sunday, Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore announced a week-long drug awareness campaign at schools throughout the province, kicking off on Monday. He said the campaign would help the education department in assessing where drug abuse was prevalent. Organiser of the anti-drug march Darwiesh Miller said their goal was to raise public awareness and to tell druglords to stop trading and leave the area. Tik (methamphetamine) comes in various forms and can be injected, smoked or snorted. "Tik is a poison that is destroying the community. We want the merchants to stop selling tik and other drugs. This is a serious problem because many of our youth are getting involved and in this area there is a druglord in almost every second street. Children as young as 10 are getting hooked. Something must be done to stop this," Miller said. As they walked under the watchful eye of a strong police contingent, marchers were joined by residents who lined the route. One resident, who refused to be named, said: "I have a child who used tik. It was very hard for my family." "The trauma this drug brings unto a household is unbearable." We had to deal with the disappointment that he was stealing items in the house so he could buy tik. Because of our love for him as a child, we had to accept him back and help him." Pagad assistant regional secretary Faizah Parker said they were invited by the New Woodlands community to support the protest. "There are places where people are more aware and know what to look out for. This is what we want communities to do. Public awareness needs to be heightened even more and we're convinced protests like this will result in some good." Sunday's protest followed a police raid on Friday morning on a Bishop Lavis house where tik, crack cocaine and Mandrax jointly estimated at R20 000, were seized. Two stolen firearms and more than R20 000 cash, believed to be from drug dealing, were also confiscated. Three men were arrested. West Metropole police spokesperson William Reid said: "It was part of continued police investigations." The three will appear in court today. Dugmore said his department's drug awareness campaign includes issuing schools with information brochures as well as a guideline of lesson plans for educators. "The guideline forms part of the OBE Life Orientation curriculum that gets learners talking about drug abuse through class presentations, developing an awareness of the various types of drugs on the market and what the effects are," Dugmore said. A letter had been sent to the province's 1 400 schools urging principals to get school communities involved. "Drug awareness needs to happen in all our schools. It is not only an issue at (previously disadvantaged schools) but also at former Model C schools, where cases of drug abuse have been reported." "We need to get the entire school community involved in creating an environment where there is support for learners who are addicted," he said. "We will do everything in our power to assist learners, but where learners reject assistance, disciplinary measures will be enforced." He said the department was also particularly concerned about the popularity of highly addictive tik at schools because of its affordability. In his recent visits to schools Dugmore said communities had shared their experiences of learner drug abuse as well as the effects it had on their families. "We need to transform our society so that we can build a nation of which all humanity can be proud," he said. Provincial manager for the department's Safe Schools division, Nariman Khan, emphasised the importance of the Safe Schools call centre, a hotline for learner support. The call centre's number is 0800 45 46 47. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh