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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - No one can opt-out when it comes to playing a role in creating safe communities in the Western Cape.
This was the essence of what Reagan Allen, Western Cape Minister for Community Safety and Police Oversight, said at the Guy's Tea, a fundraiser for the non-profit organisation, Westridge Eyes in the Hood.
This NPO was the initiative of Natasha Plato-Muller, who decided to take action against rising crime in her neighbourhood, Extension 13.
PHOTO GALLERY: Creating safe communities
The Guy's Tea was held on Saturday, 25 June, partly to raise funds and to empower men.
Allen, who apart from holding several qualifications and being the youngest person since 1994, to hold his ministerial position, is also an acclaimed comedian. This ensured that despite a serious message about taking responsibility for safety, Allen often had his audience in stitches with his quirks.
Honouring the women in the audience, including his wife, Edwinah, he started off his speech by pointing out the importance of choices made by men. He also noted the relationship between Youth Day and Father's Day, both being in June.
"A father must be involved in a child's life, from conception onward. It saddens me that 48% of our youths grow up fatherless. Although socio-economic factors play a huge part in young men turning to gangsterism, the absence of fathers to give guidance is a huge problem."
Allen said that, in fact everyone within a community must play a role.
He explained that in terms of the Western Cape Safety Plan the approach to safety is about involving "the whole of government and the whole of society".
Allen noted that in the Western Cape, there are more known drug houses than public schools.
"There are 1 557 known drug houses and 43% of them are outside Cape Town."
Allen commended those who were part of neighbourhood watch structures.
"There are 260 neighbourhood watches in the Western Cape, involving 16 000 members of the community doing their bit. With Mossel Bay contributing 44 neighbourhood watches, it shows the town is working."
Allen made a call to action to all the men in the community to act as role models.
"It's tough, but if we are able to be role models for the next generation, it will become easier for them to be the role models of the next generations."
Minister Reagan Allen with Natatsha Plato-Muller and executive mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé. Photo: Jason Michaels
'Ons bring jou die nuutste Mosselbaai, Tuinroete nuus'
