25/08/2026
No good deed goes unpunished.
Last week was, without a doubt, one of the most important projects we have been part of to date.
Together with a group of stakeholders, we visited five primary schools in two days in Rustenburg and spoke to Grade 7 learners about the dangers of substance abuse and social media. We believe Grade 7 is such an important age — they are about to enter high school and face choices that can shape the rest of their lives.
Sadly, the reality of what we spoke about is something we see every day.
Drugs are destroying lives, breaking families apart and pulling young people into a darkness that is incredibly difficult to escape.
Last night we were called out to assist one of our clients with an individual who is well known in the area and has been involved in numerous incidents. The individual was aggressive and intimidating, and once again, our hands are largely tied when proper cases are not opened and legal steps are not taken.
We also understand that people get hungry, and giving someone food is sometimes the immediate humane thing to do. But if we genuinely want to help people trapped in addiction, we need to help them get off the streets and into organisations that can provide proper rehabilitation and support.
Because the cycle can start with something as small as stealing a loaf of bread, then become stealing a bicycle, then vehicles — and as we have seen first hand into MURDER….. it escalates into violent crimes. Without intervention, the end of that road can be jail or death.
The individual involved in the bread incident that has been discussed on social media and where we have been put in bad light, is a good example of why there is more to the story than what is seen in a single post. On a previous occasion, a customer bought him a pie. After the customer left, he wanted to exchange the pie. When the shop refused because the food had already left the shop and brought back in, he threw the pie at the shop assistant.
That is the reality our teams are faced with on a daily basis.
So yes, we must have compassion. But compassion must also mean trying to break the cycle, not simply treating the symptom for one day.
We will continue to assist where we can, involve SAPS where necessary, encourage people to open cases and follow the proper legal channels.
Rustenburg has a serious drug problem. We see the consequences every single day.
That is why last week’s school project meant so much to us. If we can reach even one child before they make a life-changing decision, then it was worth it.
Sometimes changing a life starts with simply starting the conversation.
