20 February 2007
Eastern Cape MEC for Safety and Liaison, Mr Thobile Mhlahlo, will embark on
a two-day programme to promote mass participation of school-going youth in
crime prevention this week.
On Thursday, 22 February 2007, MEC Mhlahlo will lead a group of learners
from schools within the Nelson Mandela Bay in a visit to St Albans Correctional
Centre at 11h00.
The purpose of the visit is to educate young people about the consequences
of committing crime.
On Friday, MEC Mhlahlo and Education MEC Johnny Makgato will host an Imbizo
on Safety and Security in Schools at St Thomas High School in Gelvandale, Port
Elizabeth at 10h00.
This is a response to the Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela's
announcement in the State of the Province Address that these two departments
would embark on a programme to promote safety and security in Eastern Cape
schools.
The targeted areas include the Nelson Mandela Bay, King Sabata Dalindyebo
and Buffalo City.
This Imbizo is expected to come up with concrete plans to strengthen safety
and security measures in our schools for a conductive learning and teaching
environment.
It is a universally recognised fact that young people, by virtue of their
age and inexperience, can become perpetrators or victims of crime due to
various reasons.
According to the 2005 National Youth Victimisation Study, which was released
last year by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, youth living in the
metropolitan areas such as the Nelson Mandela Bay are most likely to be victims
or perpetrators of both property and violent crimes, while those in rural areas
are the least likely.
Our crime pattern analysis in the Eastern Cape shows that an average of 271
young people gets arrested monthly.
This number is dominated by boys aged between 15 and 17 years.
Common crimes include housebreaking, theft, robbery, attempted murder and
drug possession.
Some young people are used by drug lords to circulate their products in
schools.
The most problematic areas include the Nelson Mandela Metro, Grahamstown,
Mthatha, East London and Queenstown.
Despite this challenge, young people have many insights into the dynamics of
the problem, which necessitates their participation in crime prevention
programmes.
The 2005 National Youth Victimisation Study further reveals the challenge of
violence experienced by school-going South African youth.
It shows that almost one in six young people feared to travel to school,
while one in five had been threatened or hurt by someone at school, and nearly
a third had been verbally abused by someone at school.
Members of the media are cordially invited to all these activities.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Spokesperson Ministry for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport
Cell: 082 442 2388 or 073 2066 569
Issued by: Department of Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
20 February 2007
