Youth engage on crime issues

Gallery Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Youth from all over the Garden Route District participated in a Youth Crime Summit in Mossel Bay last weekend.

The summit, hosted by the Da Gamaskop Police Cluster, took place at the D'Almeida community hall.

According to Brigadier Phumzile Cetyana, the cluster commander, the initiative started as an intervention in the fight against crime. Cetyana says the aim is to create a paradigm shift among the youth to become more involved in crime prevention.

"We want them to think safety, to look at it seriously and to ultimately contribute to a safer society."

The youth were divided into seven groups and Cetyana says their feedback on the topics discussed will be compiled into a working document to craft the way forward. Each group was given a specific topic to discuss and make suggestions on.

PHOTO GALLERY: Youth discuss crime and safety

This included how crime affects the youth in communities; the root cause of youth committing crime in communities; the impact of social media and technology on the youth in committing crime; how is gender-based violence affecting the youth; the need in the community to sustain a crime-free community; and the role government, the private sector and youth play in addressing crime among the youth.

Nathan Ruiters (right) from Heidelberg and Damian Davids (left) from Great Brak River gave insightful comment on the effect of social media and technology on crime among the youth. Photo: Cornelle Carstens

The focus group for the summit was those aged 18 to 35, who represented communities from Heidelberg to Plettenberg Bay, and including Oudtshoorn.

Cetyana says gangsterism is among the top concerns regarding criminal activity affecting the youth in the district. He also says drug and substance abuse, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy as well as young people being used by hardened criminals to commit crime, is of concern.

The level of keen participation on the part of the youth is a great sign, he says.

"We are hoping for greater involvement from the youth's side in the fight against crime. I made a call to action, to encourage them to join all the available initiatives against crime."

A participant from Uniondale made a passionate plea to communities to unite against crime. Photo: Cornelle Carstens