Motswikitswiki seeks to ‘discipline unruly gangsters’
The group from Mankweng is working with the police to eradicate social ills and fight crime and gangsterism.
POLOKWANE – Phillip Manale, Spokesperson and founding member of Motswikitswiki, says the Mankweng community and surrounding areas have long been terrorised by gangsters, leaving residents living in fear.
“They do this because they believe they are too young to be arrested. Six years ago, a group of youngsters were caught in possession of drugs, including nyaope, as well as dangerous weapons. We decided to band together and host a crime awareness campaign with schools in the area to try and get to the bottom of this. That was the birth of Motswikitswiki,” he explained.
Manale added that most school drop-outs in the area become gang members and the group’s aim is to disband these gangs and get the learners back in the classroom. Due to poverty, there are many broken families and unhealthy relationships between children and the parents.
The group has worked closely with community leaders, church members, the police, social workers and parents in order to discipline unruly gangsters, under the premise that ‘you spare the rod, you spoil the child’.
“Children are children and yes, they are allowed to make mistakes but they need to learn to take accountability for their actions. They need to learn from their mistakes and know what is right and what is wrong.”
Manamela says communities need to find coordinated strategies to combat all crime and violent activities.
On the organisation’s name, Manamela says Motswikitswiki refers to a long, thin stick used in the past to discipline children. “We are not saying that corporal punishment is fair and just, but sometimes tough love is necessary,” he emphasised.
