Youth urged to help fight crime
In a bid to to engage young people in the fight against crime, the provincial department of safety & liaison hosted a youth dialogue at the University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus on Monday.
Speaking at the event, MEC Weziwe Tikana said it was important that young people affected by crime participated in looking at ways of tackling the scourge.
The event was held ahead of Human Rights Day celebrations in Elundini municipality in the Joe Gqabi district on Thursday.
“As the cabinet, we took a decision that we must have build-up programmes ahead of the day, and we saw fit to involve the youth. They need to know that rights go with responsibilities,” she said.
Tikana said rights were a big issue when it came to crime. “Even the perpetrators understand that they have rights.
“That is why we brought stakeholders like the NPA to explain these things to them
[the youth],” she said.
She said her department had introduced a concept whereby young people acted as young commissioners – “people who want to be understudies to the work of police. They will be our ambassadors, engage and do awareness programmes with other young people.”
“We want them [young people] to balance their rights and what they are doing. They must be responsible,” she said.
Tikana said the government wanted to renew the country and wanted young people to be part of that process.
“Most of the people involved in criminal activities are young people which leads law enforcement personnel to have more cases which involve young people. We want young people to grow up as responsible citizens,” she said.
Raymond Mhlaba mayor Bandile Ketelo said it was important that the event was held in Alice.
“The levels of crime in Alice are very high, something that poses a huge threat to people working here. We have the University of Fort Hare here, and it is important that people residing here should feel safe.
“If we do not make sure students and staff are safe, they will leave this area.”
One of the attendees, Sinokhayo Koloti, a Grade 11 at Ulwazi High in Mdantsane, said it was important for parents to be role models for their children.