The Eikendal community stood up against drug abuse on Sunday as more than 120 residents marched down their streets against the scourge.
The Eikendal Support Group – which helps those affected by drug addiction – organised the march.
The residents gathered at a local sports field and marched towards Seventh Avenue, holding banners and singing hymns.
When they reached the end of Seventh Avenue, they all bowed their heads and prayed for more people to join the Eikendal Support Group.
Then they walked to the United Congregational Church in Eighth Avenue where Pastor Ulrich Strauss, of the Lofdal Restoration Centre, encouraged them to stand together against drugs.
Denver Dreyer, a former drug addict who founded a support group, said the march was held to show those using drugs and those affected by them that they were not alone.
Mr Dreyer is the founder of Independent Drug Education Agency (iDEA), which runs educational programmes to stop young people experimenting with drugs (“It draws you in- and takes you out,” Northern News, June 14, 2017).
“There is a massive need of support for the people of Kraaifontein with the scourge of drug abuse in our community, and the vision of the support group is to create awareness around the dangers of drug abuse, and we aim to get people involved in helping others come clean.”
His mother had drawn on a support group’s help during his recovery, he said.
The Eikendal Support Group meets at
Eikendal Congregational Church, in Eighth Avenue, on Wednesdays at 7pm. Contact Mr Dreyer at 064 266 5728 or Jacques Botha at 060 588 2052 for details.