Youth week 30 June - 7 July 2006

"Escape for your life" Gen 19:17

Summary of SAPS presentation, 3 July 2006:

Young people need to participate in crime prevention
The South African Police Services and the Community Police Forums, were the guest speakers at the 3pm service.
Mr B.J. Sibisi, the chairperson of the KZN CPFs gave a speech in which he highlighted ways for young people to make a difference regarding crime. "We are especially concerned about violent crime against women and children", said Mr Sibisi. He pleaded with the four to five thousand children, teens and young adults, not to be part of the growing drug problem. He said that Mandrax and Dagga (marijuana) are destroying many young lives. He also asked for more involvement of the physically disabled community - "those who are disabled because of crimes committed against them".
He and Superintendent Chonco, and a local SAPS captain, answered questions later in the service. In particular, the questions were around the need to feel safe if a crime is reported. Quite a few of the children said they are afraid to report crimes in their communities because of revenge. The police gave a Toll-free number which can be used to report crime without the need to divulge identity and guarantees complete anonymity (08600 10111).
Mr Sibisi said that we need the faith of Christianity to bring a culture of responsibility instead of crime.
When asked whether the police should consider enforcing a dress-code to lessen the rape statistics he replied that it is not the duty of the police to do that and, "anyway, you can't say that an adult who rapes little children can blame provocative clothing - it is the corruption in man's heart that needs to be changed." He added that in traditional Zulu culture the girls wore even less and rape was unheard of.

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