Eldos calls for unity against drugs, crime

23 September 2015

 

Eldorado Park residents in the City of Johannesburg’s Region G will have to stand up against social ills such as drug abuse, crime and teenage pregnancy plaguing the community.

 

This was the general feeling of the leaders of various political parties, religious organisations, business leaders, non-governmental organisations and the youth who attended the Meaningful Citizen Participation Empowerment dialogue at the Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park on Tuesday night 22 September. The ongoing dialogue seeks to help residents of Region G to positively reshape their communities.

 

Facilitated by Regional Director Mickey Padiachee, Tuesday’s session was attended by representatives of the ANC Youth League, South African Communist Party, Economic Freedom Fighters, Greater Eldorado Park United Civic Movement, Eldorado Park Taxi Association, Eldorado Park Business Forum, National Federated Chamber of Commerce, Agents for Change and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

 

Speakers were unanimous in calling for the community to take drastic steps in the fight against crime, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.

 

“We must face these challenges head on. Our area is infested with drugs and teenage pregnancy is unacceptably high. We must do something about it before it is too late,” said Padiachee.

 

Speakers also said the high rate of unemployment and lack of interest from the youth in taking menial jobs allegedly offered to them contributed to poor economic development and empowerment. Padiachee pleaded with leaders of political parties and organisations to refrain from point scoring and focus on developing and reshaping Eldorado Park.

 

“We should harness our energy in one direction – helping Eldorado to grow. If we fail we should blame ourselves,” he said.

Greater Eldorado Park United Civic Movement founder Golden Miles Bhudu said there should be a united forum that would embrace all parties and organisations. The forum, he said, would in turn establish a task team to help in shaping the way forward. At the end of the meeting it was agreed that all religious organisations, sporting bodies, non-governmental organisations, business forums, SAPS, Johannesburg Metro Police Department and Community Policing Forum will meet in groups and report back to another meeting in November.

 

Tuesday’s meeting was concluded with a declaration saying: “We will be united and will unify all the people in our community in order to create a united and prosperous community. We will strive to fight all ills of our society and ensure economic growth takes place in an inclusive manner.”