SAPS continues school outreach programme at Brakpan Educational Centre
The group spoke to the learners about a variety of topics.
Brakpan SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) visited the Brakpan Educational Centre on Friday to address the learners on drugs, bullying and road safety. Sergeant Faith Ntuli urged the learners to follow the rules of the road, especially as pedestrians.
“I normally see you learners cross the road and where is your concentration? On the phone? If a car hits you, whose fault is it? It’s yours. Remember, your safety comes first. When you are on the road or crossing the road, you leave everything behind and concentrate on your safety,” she said.
Ntuli informed the learners about drugs, specifically dagga. She said that even though it has been legalised, it has only been legalised for use in your own home if you are older than 18.
“If you possess, sell or smoke dagga as a minor or in school, you can be criminally charged and finish school with a criminal record. Who will employ you then?” she said.
She asked learners to list possible consequences of illicit drug use. They mentioned mental instability, trouble with their studies, theft to feed the addictions, and exposure to the risks of human trafficking and rape.
When some wanted to know about the use of nicotine, specifically in vapes and not cigarettes, they were informed that it is illegal to possess and consume nicotine in any form under the age of 18.
Ntuli also addressed the issues of respect for authority, for the image of the school and self before handing over to advocate Dick Hattingh from the NPA.
Hattingh spoke briefly about the roles of a prosecutor before diving into the legal consequences of having a drug-related criminal record.
“You will struggle to get a job and your next sentence will be more severe. You might lose the possibility of parole.
You will not be trusted in the community, might lose friends, and will not be able to get into a university. Even if you do, you will be unemployed with a university degree.
“One consequence is you will never be able to legally possess a licensed firearm, and it will be difficult to leave the country,” he told the learners.
“If you commit crimes, you end up in the gutter, so you need to walk the straight and narrow,” he said.
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He then spoke about bullying, what constitutes bullying and how it can also be criminally charged.
Anastacia Marabele, the HR development official for SAPS Brakpan, addressed the learners about job opportunities in law enforcement, which include detectives, forensic pathologists or technicians, social workers, psychologists, accountants, the K9 Unit, traffic wardens, helicopter pilots, and the SAPS marching band.
She informed learners that they could get a job in law enforcement without becoming a police officer by serving the community in other ways.
