Mokoena rebukes Alex parents

Elizabeth Mokoena of Alex Police Station’s Victim Empowerment Unit, speaking about crime reports in Alex News, has attributed criminality in the township to parents’ uncaring attitude.

Mokoena says gangs that have links to hardened criminals recruit youngsters in schools. They then sell drugs and run errands for the gangs, leading to their integration into mainstream gang activity.

She said, “The criminals take advantage of parents’ laxity and become surrogate parents and guardians. In the process, the children are exposed to ill-gotten material gains that attract them to crime at the expense of education, which is said to be a time waster.

“They sell drugs and cigarettes to fellow pupils. Parents, who should be suspicious, show no concern when the children display loads of money at home and lead flashy lives,” Mokoena said.

She said some parents complain when police arrest their children for drug possession and shrug this off as petty crime.

She suggested:

Churches talk more openly about issues such as teenage pregnancy

Schools use peer-based support services and counsellors

• Parents be more involved in their children’s lives
• Parents search their children’s school bags and clothes if they act suspiciously
• Parents cooperate with school authorities and police
• Residents report children who bunk school, and those who smoke drugs and drink alcohol
• Community reports backyard abortion clinics and taverns that sell alcohol to underage children.

Details: Elizabeth Mokoena 083 315 0748.

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