WATCH: Young people highlight need for justice
Young people took part in the peaceful walk which was hosted by the National Prosecuting Authority.
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Pinetown Magistrate’s Court held a Youth Walk on Friday, 23 June to celebrate the youth and highlight the need for justice in crimes against young people, as well as advocating the need for added access to judicial resources for the youth in South Africa at present.
According to P Nogonyoti, senior public prosecutor for Pinetown, the walk was planned as a celebration of Youth Day which took place on June 16.
About 200 people took part in the peaceful walk outside the court’s entrance in Dale’s Street, moving up Crompton Road, along Hill Street to the taxi rank, before turning back and returning via Dale’s Avenue to Crompton Road and back to the court building.
A large group including organisations seeking to combat human trafficking joined the march which included the police band who entertained and thrilled shoppers in the Hill street area as the march went along the route.
NICRO, an NGO which was present at the walk, said its main aim is to empower youth to beat the odds. A mission the organisation’s head of business development and marketing, Belinda Bowling says needs to be a national priority for South Africa.
“Imagine a South Africa where every at-risk underprivileged youngster has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. A South Africa in which the starting line for each youngster is at the same point from the finish line, and in which each has the same quality and quantity of training in preparation for the race,” wrote Bowling in a blog post to commemorate Youth Day.
NICRO deals with the social consequences inequality on a daily basis where, according to Bowling, the childhood profile of the average juvenile offender follows a path from birth into poverty, through a broken community, influenced by often dysfunctional parental and other influences and exposure to emotional and physical violence and often substance abuse from a very young age.
Like any other NGO doing work NICRO is always happy to receive donations to help them with their work. If you wish to support NICRO by making a financial contribution or even just learn more about the services they offer and programmes they run, check out their website: nicroinaction.co.za or contact their head office in Cape Town on 021 462 0017 or via email info@nicro.co.za.
