MJ Ngidi Primary School of Block X Soshanguve together with the Rietgat South African Police Servcies (SAPS) hosted a crime awareness campaign to create awareness to pupils and the members of the community about crime and to encourage crime reporting.
Parents came in large numbers to support their children that was also attended by the South African National Council on Alcoholism (SANCA) and Families South Africa (FAMSA).
The increasing rate of crime and number of juvenile prisoners motivated the principal Mr Modise to host the crime awareness event in the school for his learners.
Mr Modise told Soshanguve Times that the mission of the school is to liberate the community from dependence and to empower pupils to develop freely according to the diverse ability and be able to take responsibility.
“Crime should not take place anywhere in South Africa, not even in our schools and we are supposed to be the custodians of knowledge and wisdom and yet, crimes like murder still occur in our communities,” said Mr Modise.
A 13-year-old motivational speaker and, anti-bully activist, Njabulo Zulu, was also invited to give motivation to her peers. He once experienced bullying himself in school where other learners made racist attacks on her because of her skin tone, said the bullying also involved teachers where pupil no longer take command from teachers, “the pupils also bullied teachers.
“Pupils would refuse to listen to the teachers and I am here to tell other learners to give teachers respect that they would want to get back,” said Ms Zulu.
“If you refuse correction you are not wise but if you accept correction you become wiser,” she added.
The Rietgat SAPS Captain Maluleka and Sergeant Maphanga who worked together with the school to do the crime awareness campaign said they saw that the school children needed to be guided because the country is exposed to many things, including crime, substance and drug abuse.
Sargent Maphanga said the learners need to wear a uniform to represent the school and encouraged the girls to not wear short skirst that might reveal private areas to avoid being sexually harassed.
“Parents need to believe in their children and make them recognize their talent so that they could refrain from being involved in crime,” said Sargent Maphanga.
An ex-convict who was sentenced for 25 years in prison for attempted murder, armed robbery and hijacking, Mr Zweli Baloyi, who is now a motivational speaker and a pastor, motivated the school children to stay away from crime.
“Parents need to be alert on what they do in front of their children because it has an effect on the mental health of children, this might lead children to physically and verbally abuse other children,” said Mr Zulu.
“Crime does not pay and I saw that late myself, I had no choice but to do my matric in jail because of my wrongdoings.
“I would to tell learners not to give up on education and to use the opportunity they have now because if I was able to do my matric in prison, what would prevent scholars to finish school when they have all the time and opportunities out of prison,” he said.
The SGB Chairperson MR Skommer concluded with a vote of thanks to the participants of the event and said it is the responsibility of society to stop the crime.
