Learners excel in justice programme
The learners who won the essay competition and those who presented speeches in the ceremony are going to compete in the National Safety Debate and life skills competition.
Sethibela Ramoipone and Chulumanco Mfenyana, learners at Lethulwazi Comprehensive Secondary School, reigned supreme in the essay competition that was part of the communities and justice programme meant to prevent crime in communities.
The awards ceremony was held at Nguni Hall in Vosloorus on August 31.
It was established by the Safer South Africa Foundation in collaboration with the SAPS, Human Rights Commission, the NPA, Gauteng Department of Basic Education, the Department of Correctional Services, Department of Justice, the Banking Association South Africa, the EMPD and Clinix to promote a crime-free South Africa without young people going to prison.
Ninety-five learners from Lethulwazi Comprehensive participated, but only 72 learners completed the programme because the other 23 learners had to attend initiation schools.
Ramoipone wrote a powerful essay about his experience in the programme, which is aimed at nurturing and shaping young people. The learners toured Boksburg Correctional Services, attended a court case and visited Vosloorus SAPS and EMPD precincts.
“I was nervous when they called out my friends’ names in second and third places and I thought I wasn’t going to win the competition. I’m overwhelmed that I won and I can’t believe that my essay topped the chart.
“I practice writing every day as I’m a rapper and write my own lyrics. My mother imparted her writing skills to me because she was also a good essay writer,” he said.
Senior state prosecutor at Boksburg Magistrate’s Court Advocate Henk Strydom addressed the learners.
He said they should embrace courage.
“You need to be courageous young people because with courage you can achieve whatever you want,” said Strydom.
“It takes courage for you to be successful. We live in a nasty world that is not full of rainbows, as often portrayed.”
He added that life has a lot of ways to put you down. It will beat you to the ground and make you fall on your knees, but you will only need the courage to come back up to your feet.
“It’s not about you being hardcore and packing hardcore punches. It’s about how many times you can take the hits as a person. You need the courage to go forward under any adversities such as poverty, and also drug and alcohol abuse.”
The Safer South Africa Foundation Gauteng coordinator Edna Mamonyane said she enjoyed showing the learners what’s wrong and right.
“What they have learned here will stay with them,” she said.
All the learners who were part of the programme received certificates for participating.
Also Read: Learners get a taste of prison life
Also Read: Boksburg North SAPS members educate learners
