At the Thabong Secondary School 100 learners were impacted by the Safer South Africa Foundation (SSAF) Schools Crime Prevention Programme.
The SSAF has made significant progress in its drive to involve learners in crime prevention through its Communities and Justice Programme (CJP) in the first quarter of 2024.
Despite resource constraints, the SSAF successfully reached 906 learners from eight schools across seven provinces, bolstering the initiative’s cumulative impact, which has now touched over 41 000 learners across 408 schools since its inception in 2012.
General (ret) Riah Phiyega, CEO of SSAF, commended the dedicated efforts of the leadership team and underscored the crucial support from stakeholders within the criminal justice cluster.
“The successful completion of the first quarter, despite tight resources, is a testament to the resilience of the SSAF leadership team and the criminal justice cluster stakeholders that support us,” said Phiyega.
In the Eastern Cape, SSAF continues to collaborate with schools in the Buffalo Flats, Duncan Village, Braelyn, and Scenery Park areas within the Buffalo City Metro Educational District. The schools are in impoverished communities where drug and alcohol abuse as well as violence are prevalent, and unfortunately, these social ills spill over into the schools.
“In addition to these challenges, a cyberbullying trend is intensifying and requires urgent attention,” Phiyega added.
The CJP educates learners about the roles of various law enforcement practitioners, such as police, traffic officers, prosecutors, court officials, correctional services, human rights and financial literacy.
Educators in the schools serve as the platform owners and coordinate the programme with the SSAF coordinator, linking CJP stakeholders with parents and the community. Learners engage directly with law enforcement agents, enhancing trust and confidence in the criminal justice system. They learn about their rights and responsibilities in their interactions with law enforcement and contribute ideas on improving safety and security in their schools and communities.
Building on this momentum, the SSAF recently concluded the implementation of the CJP in Gauteng, Free State, and North West, focusing on engaging out-of-school youth.
This initiative, conducted in collaboration with Harmony Gold and Anglo American, aimed to combat criminality within mining communities, specifically concerning illegal mining activities. The foundation has recognised 200 youths from Virginia for participating in the out-of-school programme.
“The CJP stands as a beacon of hope, empowering individuals and communities to combat crime and build safer environments for all. SSAF remains committed to its mission of fostering a safer country, one school and community at a time,” Phiyega concluded.
