TSHWANE mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa has urged churches to help the government tackle high school dropout rates, drug abuse and prostitution.

Addressing a congregation yesterday at the Tower of Grace Church in Roslyn, Pretoria, Ramokgopa said the drug nyaope had become a big problem among the youth in major Tshwane's townships like Atteridgeville, Mamelodi and Soshanguve.

The church had invited him to participate in prayers on the challenges facing the city and the church's role in mediating in social conflict.

He said the churches had an important role to play in encouraging young people to go to school.

Ramokgopa said the high school dropout rate and lower university entrance pass among matrics were a big problem.

"You do not have to search to find where the problem is," he said. "Go to Atteridgeville, Mamelodi and Soshanguve and you will find them smoking nyaope on street corners.

"It is not a [President Jacob] Zuma or [Basic Education Minister]Angie Motshekga's problem, but a collective problem. That is why we are inviting the churches to help us so that we set the bar higher."

Ramokgopa said the city also had a prostitution problem.

"Generally people feel comfortable sharing their problems and frustrations with a church, that is why we need to have a relationship with the churches."

Bishop Solly Lalamani, who was inaugurated as the city's spiritual father last year, said one of his responsibilities was establishing a prayer house for all stakeholders, including the government in the city . - ratsatsip@sowetan.co.za