By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Sourced
The “No Drugs – No Gangs” Gentlemen’s Club initiative by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, aimed at guiding boys away from gangsterism, drugs and violence through mentorship and positive leadership in communities across Gauteng. Photo Credit: Sourced.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature has launched a new community initiative aimed at steering young boys away from gangsterism, drug abuse and violent crime through mentorship and positive role modelling.
The programme, known as the “No Drugs – No Gangs” Gentlemen’s Club, is being led by Dulton K. Adams, Chairperson of Committees at the Legislature. The initiative seeks to address the growing concern that boys as young as 10 are being drawn into criminal networks in several vulnerable communities across Gauteng.
Responding to a Growing Social Crisis
Communities such as Westbury, Reiger Park, Eldorado Park and Eersterus have increasingly reported incidents where young boys are recruited, manipulated or pressured by older gang members and drug syndicates to participate in criminal activities.
Authorities say the situation has reached alarming levels, with children between the ages of 10 and 16 becoming targets for gangs seeking to expand their influence within communities.
The Gentlemen’s Club initiative aims to intervene early by providing structured mentorship programmes that encourage discipline, responsibility and leadership among young boys before they become entangled in criminal networks.
Mentorship and Positive Role Models
At the heart of the programme is the belief that strong mentorship and positive male role models can play a transformative role in guiding young boys toward constructive life paths.
Through mentorship sessions, young participants will engage in discussions about self-respect, accountability, education, and the consequences of crime, while also receiving guidance from community leaders and professionals.
Organisers say the initiative is designed not only to deter young people from gang activity but also to help them develop confidence, life skills and a sense of purpose.
Part of a Broader Government Response
The programme forms part of a broader government strategy aimed at tackling organised crime and restoring safety in affected communities.
In addition to community-based interventions, the initiative complements the deployment of the South African National Defence Force in high-risk areas, where authorities are working to dismantle criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking and gang-related violence.
By combining security operations with community empowerment programmes, officials hope to address both the symptoms and the root causes of crime.
Strengthening Community Engagement
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature says the initiative also reflects its commitment to strengthening community engagement and developmental oversight.
By working directly with communities facing social challenges, the Legislature aims to rebuild public trust while creating practical solutions to issues affecting young people.
Officials believe programmes like the Gentlemen’s Club can help communities reclaim their spaces and ensure young boys grow up in environments that encourage opportunity rather than criminal influence.
Community Sessions Across Gauteng
The mentorship programme will roll out through a series of sessions hosted across different communities in Gauteng.
The first session will take place in Noordgesig on Saturday, 14 March 2026, from 09:00 to 12:00 at Patmore Deluxe Hall.
Later that day, a second session will be hosted in Riverlea at the Riverlea Recreation Centre from 13:00 to 15:00.
On 21 March 2026, mentorship activities will continue in Westbury and Claremont, with a session scheduled at Claremont at The Church of Johannesburg – The Dome.
The programme will conclude its current rollout phase with a session in Ennerdale on 28 March 2026, hosted at Saint George Primary School Hall.
Investing in the Future
Organisers believe the “No Drugs – No Gangs” Gentlemen’s Club has the potential to become a powerful intervention in the fight against youth crime, particularly in communities that have struggled with gang violence for decades.
By investing in mentorship and personal development, the initiative aims to empower young boys to choose leadership, education and positive community engagement over the destructive pull of gangs and drugs.
For many families and community leaders, the programme offers hope that a new generation of young men will grow up with the support, guidance and opportunities needed to build safer and stronger communities.
