Tembisa learners experience what jail is like

Crime prevention stakeholders held a Youth Day awareness session with school learners at Rabasotho Police Station hall on June 17.

The aim was to warn and educate the youth about the consequences of crime and substance abuse. They visited the cells and offered prayers. The learners were exposed to experience what it is like to be in police custody.

Bishop Michael Mtshali, the chairperson of Faith Based Organisation, has urged the youth to stay away from social ills and stay motivated in schools.

“It is time we start visiting schools again and offer our prayers as church leaders because there are a lot of things happening in schools that teachers cannot solve alone,” said Mtshali.

“On June 28 we will engage with different stakeholders at Tembisa South Police Station to find a way forward about the rise in crimes and violence in our communities,” added Mtshali.

Khomotso Mphahlele, the cluster chairperson of the Youth Desk Crime Prevention Desk, said the issues of bullying, gangsterism and drug use need to be given special attention.

“We need to encourage sport activities and engage the councillor to provide facilities for the young ones to play there,” said Mphahlele.

“Every month we have programmes about drug awareness and school searches. We need the police to also search the learners and make arrests if necessary,” added Mphahlele.

Rev Maggie Manaka from Ethiopian Catholic Christian Church in South Africa said the learners do not know how it feels to be held in a police cell.

“We wanted the learners to have a glimpse of what it is like to be in jail and maybe that can change their mindsets about crime,” said Manaka.

Brigadier Frank Mthombeni said the youth of 1976 fought for the liberation of today’s youth and it is high time they realise that.

“We are trying to build responsible citizens and maybe we will have future police men and women from those who still stick to the rules and do things by the book,” said Mthombeni.

Oratile Maja, a Hoerskool Birchleigh Grade Nine learner, said she is hoping that her perspective will change after seeing those behind holding cells.

“We always have about 40 phones stolen at school and I now understand that police have more serious problems to deal with, but I am not saying cellphone theft is not a crime or a big deal,” said Maja.