Endemic unemployment sees eMbalenhle youth turn to substance abuse

The area, which is situated in Mpumalanga's coalfields, was established in the 1970s and meant to serve as a blacks-only township in Secunda.

It would become a beacon of hope for thousands of citizens who would come to work in the coalfields as a way to better their lives. 

However, it is now facing persistent power cuts, a lack of service delivery, high youth unemployment and drug abuse among the youth.

Newly-appointed Mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma estimates that close to 40% of the township’s population is unemployed. 

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 “Currenlty Covid has hit hard at home, we estimate that 40% of the people in Embalenhle are unemployed and out of that figure, 60% happens to be the youth.” 

Thuto Brian Motaung and Muzi Thomas Mkhwanazi are two of the hundreds of youth who are unemployed and battling drug addiction. 

Both say that they turned to substance abuse because they are frustrated over a lack of employment opportunities.

Speaking to Jacaranda FM News on Saturday, Motaung pleaded with government to help him get clean. 

Mkhwanazi said drug abuse in the area has become a huge challenge, often leading them to undesirable ways of making money to purchase them.

Mayor Zuma says the municipality is in the process of building a drug rehabilitation centre, although he  does believe it is the only solution. 

 “Drug rehabilitation centres are not the solution, actually the solution are interventions that are going to keep young people busy. That is why as the municipality along with the provincial government and the office of the premier have agreed that we are going to construct a multifacet youth centre that will be owned and managed by the government itself. 

“It’s going to be a centre that will be about four hectres with a number of activities that are taking place. This will include social counseling that must be continuously given to young people guidance by professional individuals in various fields.”