Community-based initiatives in preventing and combatting drug abuse in a South African township

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v11i1.1555

Keywords:

Community, Service delivery, Drug abuse, churches, South Africa, townships

Abstract

Substance abuse is one of the most pervasive problems facing our nation, especially in the townships. Curbing this problem requires an integrated approach in which community stakeholders and society work together to improve safety by tackling the fundamental causes of criminality through mobilising state and non-state capacities and resources at all levels. This study seeks to assess the strategies and successes of community initiatives and circumstances that bestow on the path towards helping to fulfill the community’s aim to prevent and combat drug abuse. This study made use of a sample of 90 respondents 18 years and older who responded to the survey. A purposive sample of 10 staff members from the community-based organisations participated in oral interviews, while a simple random sample of 80 community members responded to questionnaires. Furthermore, secondary data sources were consulted to back up the claims that emerged from this study. While the study evaluated community strategies and documented some of the successes, including the rehabilitation of drug addicts, it also highlighted the lack of capacity of community organisations to make meaningful contributions in this regard. In particular, the lack of cooperation/collaboration and trust between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the community stakeholders is a cause for concern that may hinder any efforts to combat drug abuse. This study, therefore, highlights strategies that require a collective effort from government stakeholders.

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Author Biographies

Petrus Machethe, University of South Africa

P Machethe is a Lecturer in the Department of Police Practice, School of Criminal Justice under College of Law at University of South Africa. He has supervised several masters’ candidates.  He is a member of SAAPAM-South African Association of Public Administration and Management, Member of CRIMSA- Criminological and Victimological Society of Southern Africa and a member of The Social Science Research Society.Petrus was a member of South African Police Service under Research and Curriculum Development, where he received an award for best intern employee of SAPS Human Resource Development in 2015. After the end of the internship programme, he worked on contract as a Forensic Investigator at SizweNtsalubaGobodo under Forensic Department from 2016-2017. In 2018 he was appointed as a Lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology under the nGap programme.

Emeka Obioha, Walter Sisulu University

Prof Emeka E. Obioha is a full Professor of Sociology and Chair of Research and Higher Degrees in the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. He holds a PhD degree from University of Ibadan, and professional membership/fellowships of two Chartered Institutes. Emeka is a distinguished scholar, Research Laureate, recipient of distinctive awards and international fellowships across continents. He has supervised several doctoral and masters’ candidates, published extensively in his field and serves as Editor –in- Chief of some international peer reviewed journals. With extensive expertise in development capabilities, social problems, deviance, social control and systems equilibrium analysis, Emeka has consulted for some African governments and a number of international development agencies working in Africa. He is a United Nations (UN) Expert in social and development affairs, member of United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UN-OSAA) – Knowledge Network, among other international community development engagements.   

Jacob Mofokeng, Tshwane University of Technology

Jacob Tseko Mofokeng is a Full Professor and holds a Doctor Technologiae (D-Tech): Policing, a Baccalaureus Technologiae (BTech): Business Information System from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), a National Diploma and a National Higher Diploma: Policing from Technikon SA. He is African Research Chair for the Campus and School Public Safety in the Department of Safety and Security Management, and also a member of the Council of the Criminological and Victimological Society of Southern Africa (CRIMSA). He has extensive teaching experience in Criminal Investigation at undergraduate level. He has supervised postgraduate research students at the TUT since 2010. He has successfully supervised and co-supervised five Doctoral students and Master’s students. Before joining TUT, he was a functional member within the South African Police Service (SAPS) within the Detective Service for ten years and additional three years in a support environment as a Unit Commander within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure Service Management at Component: Information and Systems Management (currently known as Division: Technology and Technical Management). He has published articles in accredited journals, a book chapter as well as presented papers both at national and international conferences. He is focusing his research inquiries in transnational crime specifically in human trafficking, organised crime and terrorism. Other focus areas are police corruption, safety and security in campuses as well as on Knowledge Management. In addition to his strong academic activities especially through teaching, conference attendance and research outputs, from 2014 to 2022, Prof Mofokeng received several awards for in recognition for his research excellence. In 2014 he was a recipient of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights Award in collaboration with the University of Connecticut, USA in recognition of his exemplary contribution to the promotion and expansion of the frontiers of human rights and fostering global solidarity. He also received the Vice-Councillor’s merit awards for his excellent performance demonstrated through postgraduate supervision, community engagement as well as research outputs.

 

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Published

2022-02-14

How to Cite

Machethe, P. ., Obioha, E., & Mofokeng, J. (2022). Community-based initiatives in preventing and combatting drug abuse in a South African township. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478), 11(1), 209–220. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v11i1.1555

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2022): January

Section

Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities & Social Sciences

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Copyright (c) 2022 Petrus Machethe, Emeka Obioha, Jacob Mofokeng

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