19 Nov 2014

Dikgosi are empowered to shut down shebeens if they deem them to be a nuisance to the communities they serve, the drugs, substance and alcohol abuse facilitator in Bobonong, Mr Rebaone Montlhe has said.

Mr Montlhe said issues around loud music, physical fights, and other disorderly conducts were some of the acts dikgosi would be looking at to determine whether or not to order an establishment closed.

He said although government had made strides in curbing the abuse of alcohol in the country, a considerable number of youth still engaged in drugs and alcohol abuse. He said factors such as stress relief and morale boost were some of the reasons that led the youth to alcohol consumption.

Mr Montlhe said people who abused alcohol were normally associated with violence when drunk, missing work or school, and criminal activities. “School goers should avoid alcohol at all odds as it destroys their future,” he said.

He noted that students who took alcohol did not care about their studies and in some instances they did not obey teachers’ orders. He lamented that sweating, shaking and trembling were some of the symptoms related to alcoholism.

Kgosi Madome Madome said traditional beers such as sekhokho were very dangerous to people’s lives, adding that if the government wanted to curb abuse of alcohol, there was no need to pay more attention on sophisticated alcohol and drugs only as there were also Setswana brewed beers which were not good for consumption.

In conclusion, kgosi Mmirwa Malema said fighting against drugs, substance and alcohol abuse was vital and there was a need to include dikgosi in that war. He said as dikgosi they were playing a pivotal role in building the community that is sober. ENDS