Justice department tackles youth crime in Eldorado Park

To commemorate Youth Month, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development held a community outreach at Eldocrest Primary School, engaging residents on issues affecting vulnerable children and youth in conflict with the law, on June 14.

The event drew community members, traditional leaders from various clans, parents and learners from local schools, providing a platform for them to voice their challenges.

Eldorado Park grapples with serious socio-economic issues such as unemployment, drug-related violence, and underdevelopment, which contribute to substance abuse and increase the risk of youth involvement in crime.

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The outreach aimed to address these root causes, including adverse childhood experiences, through integrated justice and community-based interventions to break cycles of vulnerability and harmful behaviour.

This initiative to protect vulnerable children and address the social issues that lead youth to offend reflects the department’s commitment to creating safer, more inclusive communities.

MEC for Social Development Faith Mazibuko thanked the NPOs for working to remind children crime does not pay.

“A 100-day plan was outlined to focus on challenges facing children here. The establishment of this task team will make a difference, especially since the community is tired of empty promises.”

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Glisson Niekerk of Metro World Kids, an NPO teaching children aged three to 13, said, “It’s better to build children from a young age than to repair them later.

“I’m encouraged that by speaking collectively, we’re finding solutions and amplifying the child’s voice. I hope the 100-day plan outlined by the MEC brings positive results.”