Members of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) visited three high schools in Mthatha to intensify, and bring awareness to the fight against under-age drinking in schools.
According to ECLB spokesperson, Mgwebi Msiya, they followed a call from their ambassadors who saw a need for an urgent under-age drinking awareness campaign in their schools.
“This call is also after learners reported numerous cases of “pens down” parties that were being planned, and a new tendency of learners from Mthatha schools who gather at one of the malls consuming alcohol,” said Msiya.
He added that during this campaign, the ECLB were also accompanied by members of the religious fraternity from local churches.
According to him, they received a report from their sources about learners who are drinking alcohol at one of the malls in Mthatha.
“We have a WhatsApp group where we communicate with our ambassadors. It was easy for them to report this behaviour. There are even elders who called, informing us about this.
“We decided to host these awareness campaigns here in Mthatha, and we have chosen these three schools for now.”
He said they had chosen Zingisi Comprehensive School, Zimele Senior Secondary School and Zingisa Comprehensive High School. He confirmed that they also visited other schools that are outside Mthatha. According to him, they are trying to speak with the school principals so that they can be called when there are parents’ meetings. He said that this would give an opportunity to their members to address this issue of alcohol abuse. He said that they also have programmes that are focused on parents.
“We appeal to government departments and churches to take part and educate parents about this bad behaviour.”
One of the ambassadors from Zimele Senior Secondary School, Lathitha Nyembezi, said the the awareness campaign was very fruitful and it was a good initiative.
“Their advice will help us to know and understand that alcohol is a want and not a need. It means somebody can live without it,” said Nyembezi.
