02 Nov 2026

Sport Volunteers Movement (SVM) Lobatse Region will hold its annual community engagement activity against drugs and substance abuse in Lobatse on Saturday.

The event will be held under the theme: SVM Against Drugs and Substance Abuse, and will feature a 5km walk, aerobics and presentations. 

 SVM Lobatse Region chairperson, Selebatso Keabetswe, said SVM was part of the community and through day-to-day interactions, they got first-hand information on challenges faced by the community, hence they use such gatherings to share information.

He said the theme was ideal for Lobatse because the town was among the hardest hit by use of drugs, a situation that had destroyed many lives especially among the youth.

“Youth in Lobatse are involved in alcohol abuse and drugs including marijuana and methcathinone commonly known as katse, and a good number of youth have resorted to drugs due to unemployment” he said.

Keabetswe said addiction to such drugs had brought negative effects to their well-being, with some being mentally affected and engaging in social ills such as robbery, rape and street fights, while S’brana Psychiatric Hospital was overwhelmed with victims who needed rehabilitation.

He said the issue was critical because even school going children were involved.

Keabetswe appealed to the community and other stakeholders to support SVM, saying as a sport movement, they were able to reach a large number of people and touch many lives, but were limited by resource shortage hence appealed to partners who could sponsor their programmes. ENDS