The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape (NC) is deeply disturbed by the string of tragedies that have rocked the small and forgotten town of Nababeep and we are calling on the Departments of Health, Social Development and Education to urgently intervene.
In recent weeks, the town laid to rest two teenage girls, aged 17 and 19, who sadly committed suicide due to the growing sense of hopelessness that has engulfed the Nababeep community. To add to the town’s misery, a five-year old minor girl also became the victim of rape this past weekend.
The town, which is experiencing escalating poverty levels, is also riddled with increasing levels of alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and suicide. The youth are troubled and are in dire need of support.
The community is calling for an urgent and collective intervention from government. It is high time that the plight of the Nababeep community be heard and attended to.
On behalf of the community, the DA is appealing to the MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, to ensure access to mental health programmes that can provide psychological and medical support to victims of abuse and those suffering from depression.
We are also calling on the MEC for Social Development, Nontobeko Vilakazi, to step in to ensure that teenagers who experience drug and alcohol addiction, are assisted with rehabilitation services.
In addition, the MEC for Education, Zolile Monakali, needs to urgently provide teachers and learners with programmes in schools that can identify learners going through hard times, and ensure that they get the necessary help to be able to rise above their circumstances. This is even more important now that matric examinations have commenced.
Given the increased burden on people, young and old, which has been exacerbated by growing poverty levels and the Covid-19 pandemic, it is of utmost importance that mental health care becomes a government priority, especially for people living in rural areas who do not readily have access to counselling services. This is necessary to stop communities like Nababeep from suffering further trauma and loss of life.