Residents and pupils take stand against crime

FED up with the crime gripping South Africa, Nelson Mandela Bay residents are planning several anti-crime initiatives for Monday.

The Youth for Safer Communities movement is to hold an event, Freedom for Safer Youth, on Monday morning at Ikhwezilomso High School in Zwide.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the high levels of crime within the metro, illustrated by the abduction and brutal murder this week of Port Elizabeth school teacher Jayde Panayiotou, and support for crime-prevention initiatives.

Linda Zali, head of extra-curricular programmes at Masifunde Learner Development, said the focus point of the event would be a debating competition and a panel discussion.

Pupils of schools that were part of the Youth for Safer Communities debate club would discuss the potential of youth to create safer schools and communities. “The discussion will centre around xenophobic attacks that foreign nationals have been subjected to during the past couple of weeks,” Zali said. “Pupils will discuss the role young people have in the eradication of such criminal and violent acts. The youth will also showcase their talent in singing, drama, poetry and visual art.”

The Freedom for Safer Youth event is an extension of the Youth for Safer Communities workshops that Masifunde Learner Development runs in more than 34 high schools.

Another anti-crime initiative will take place in the northern areas. Residents plan to line a side of Stanford Road from 8am, according to organiser Noeleen Moodley. “Let us build a human chain along Stanford Road starting from Korsten all the way to the end of Booysen Park, and let us show unity against gangsterism, guns, drugs and all forms of violence, abuse and crime. Enough is enough. Bring your posters and banner to voice your opinion,” Moodley said.

On the other side of town, residents plan to gather at Donkin Reserve in Central to participate in a “Heal our Metro” event. It will start at 3pm and is directed at those who would like to pay respect to Panayiotou, Addo farmer Allan Clarke who was also abducted and beaten to death, and other victims of violence.

In the Schauderville area, the Community, Schools, Sports and Recreation Development Initiative is starting the day with a march from the Weis Memorial Congregational Church in Highfield Road at 8.30am, before proceeding to the Adcock Stadium in Korsten for the Recreation Against Crime Festival, the initiative’s chairman Percy Ambraal said.

Planned activities included indigenous games, tag rugby, hip hop dancers and a performance by the St George’s Brass Band.

‘ Let us show unity against gangsterism, guns, drugs and all forms of violence