In a move to strengthen community ties and tackle youth crime, Brakpan police visited a local church on April 5, addressing congregants and highlighting the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, faith-based organisations and the community in addressing issues such as gender-based violence and youth involvement in crime.

Brakpan SAPS social crime prevention and communications officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi visited Jehova Rapha Ministries along Queen Street, and was given a platform during the Sunday service.

She was accompanied by Youth Crime Prevention Desk members Sardone Sampson and Tumelo Buthelezi.

Buthelezi began by explaining to the congregants that police engage with churches to seek spiritual support, helping them cope with the daily traumatic experiences they face.

She further said it is to strengthen relations between stakeholders and communities, for unity and faith, and for principles and practices that will lead to a safer and secured living environment for all.

“Pandemics like gender-based violence require SAPS to collaborate with stakeholders, and faith-based organisations are included,” she said.

Buthelezi acknowledged the youth present in the church and encouraged them to continue on their positive path.

She added that it was disheartening to see more young people frequenting taverns than attending church.

Buthelezi told parents to pray for their children and ask for God’s divine intervention in their lives.

She reprimanded parents who sent their underaged children to taverns to buy them alcohol and cigarettes.

ALSO CHECK: Brakpan weekend crime round-up: Hijackers strike in Brenthurst, driver dumped in Springs

Buthelezi reminded parents of the saying “monkey see, monkey do,” stressing that children who grow up witnessing hatred, fighting, and disrespect at home may come to see such behaviour as normal, a factor contributing to the persistence of gender-based violence.

She urged parents to take an active role in their children’s lives and to monitor their behaviour closely.

Highlighting a troubling trend, Buthelezi warned that some parents knowingly harbour and support children involved in criminal activity, only to find that the same children may turn against them, committing theft or violence with the very means they were exposed to.

She encouraged the congregants to report all acts of lawlessness and challenged the youth to visit the police station with ideas for activities that could keep them off the streets and away from drugs and alcohol.

Brakpan police also call on all young people in the area to engage sincerely with police programmes to improve their lives, and emphasized their belief that “A child in sport is a child out of court.”

Noma Ndabula, the church’s pastor, expressed appreciation for the police intervention and highlighted the importance of stronger spiritual and community partnerships in preventing crime going forward.