There is so much crime committed by the youth in Alex that despondent parents and guardians now believe their own children are better off behind bars, said Marjorie Manganyi recently.
The community activist and Itlhokomeleng Old Age Home founder, who is affectionately known as Alex’s Mother Teresa, was echoing parents’ view that crime in the township is perpetrated mainly by the youth.
“We lead unreal lives. We are prisoners in our own homes. We can’t even sit back and relax on our verandas anymore. We feel safer behind closed doors and locked gates, afraid of our children and the strangers who roam our streets,” Manganyi said.She also blamed the crime situation on the influx of migrants, who prefer to live in Alex because of its proximity to places of employment. “This creates overcrowding, with locals and strangers scarcely getting time to know each other because of time constraints. They spend most of their time at work or looking for work. Criminals exploit this situation by recruiting children who feel neglected by their parents.”
She said once they join gangs, children become ill-disciplined and aggressive. “Some children also threaten to report to the police parents who try to discipline them, claiming their rights are being abused. Yet parents have to assume the role of responsible adults.”
Manganyi said the elderly were afraid of getting mugged, while homeless youth were resorting to drugs and scavenging in dustbins for discarded food. “Churches need to pray for them. Parents and the government need to help save them and the township from self-destruction.”
She said the onus was on parents to discipline their children and to blame themselves, not teachers if something went wrong. “Discipline will help reduce unwanted pregnancies, bullying and gangs in schools.”
She said the government should create a climate that is conducive to job creation and deploy full-time social workers and psychologists in township schools.
Details: Itlhokomeleng Old Age Home 011 443 3705.
Read: Church donates shoes to 60 Alex orphans
