27 Aug 2017

The founder of Tebogo Horatious Carter (THC) Foundation, Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire has expressed worry about alcohol and substance abuse among students which resulted in poor results and economic hardships.

Officially opening a one-day workshop at Mathiba JSS in Kanye on August 24, Lt Gen. Masire also cited Gender Based Violence as a concern the country was faced with.

He said teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and defilement in schools were experienced in large numbers and appealed to students to talk to their peers about such issues and report any unbecoming behaviour to teachers, social workers and parents.

Lt Gen. Masire said the foundation was concerned that students under the age of 13 were involved in unsafe sexual activities with elder people and their peers, and that it exposed them to diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

He said the foundation was touring the country holding anti-alcohol, teenage pregnancy, GBV and drug abuse campaigns to sensitise the youth on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

He said Gender Based Violence (GBV), especially violence against women and girls, was still a concern though government had prioritised the fight against it.

Lt Gen. Masire said in order to win the fight against GBV, it was important to establish strong teams that could help bring an end to it.

He said it was important to address Gender Based Violence at every gathering.

Sejelo Police Station, Inspector Gakologelwang Mosepele said they were concerned about cases of rape, defilement and assault in schools.

She said starting from January up to date, 17 cases of rape, three of defilement, four of assault occasioning bodily harm, 37 cases of using vulgar words and insults were registered.

Inspector Mosepele said young girls who went to bars at night with the intention that “ba ya go tshwara dipoko’’ ended up being raped.

She said they were concerned with drug abuse in schools, more especially Nyaope, which was a mixture of human faeces, ARV tablets and marijuana.

Such, she said, affected students’ performances because they played truant and did not study. ENDS