On 14 October the youth of Diepsloot stood up against knife violence following the death of a local boy.
Shaun Buso was only 18 when he was brutally murdered in a knife attack on 2 September. He had been out with friends in Diepsloot when he was stabbed by an unknown assailant and died from his wounds.
In response, the Learning Alive non-profit organisation in partnership with Power in Dance organised a fight the knife campaign to help bring an end to knife violence among the youth.
“Shaun was one of my students and a talented, motivated and active young man,” explained Ann-Marie Olufuwa, programme manager of Learning Alive. “He would’ve changed his community for the better. He was a high achiever, a hundred per center and gifted in dance and sport, and also in academics. His loss is felt keenly.”
The campaign had a number of aims, including encouraging safe conflict resolution among the youth and providing information to residents as to how they can help make their community safer.
On the day, members of a number of organisations including Learning Alive, Power in Dance and the Church of Scientology held a march in Diepsloot. The marchers began and ended their route at Diepsloot Combined School, where Buso was in Grade 11 and walked the streets singing songs and handing fliers about the campaign to the community.
Following the march, a number of workshops were held for attendees, including a basic lesson in first aid provided by ER24 paramedics, music and entertainment provided by Diepsloot FM and a self-defence demonstration given by Gert Nel of World of Martial Arts.
“If someone comes at you with a knife, the best thing you can do is run away from the situation,” Nel told the watching crowd.
Corlanie Botha of Power in Dance also taught Buso and other young people in Diepsloot hip-hop dancing and was happy with the turnout on the day.
“Our work in the community [teaching a hip-hop programme] is aimed at getting young people off the streets, teaching them skills that will help them get jobs in the future and giving them hope,” Botha said. “I’m very pleased with the turnout today, I think there are about 150 people here.”
Botha, who was recently chosen as Lead SA’s Hero of the Month for her community work, also took a moment to thank the Diepsloot South African Police Service, who sent officers to represent the station on the day, as well as the Diepsloot Community Policing Forum, who helped with safety on the march.
Constable Mojata, spokesperson for the Diepsloot police, said that police in the area wanted to raise awareness and campaign against drugs in the area, and inspire the community to say no to gangsterism in Diepsloot.
“There have been no arrests yet [in the Buso murder case], and the investigation is still ongoing,” she concluded.
Learning Alive needs people to get involved and sponsor their work in the community. If you are able to offer assistance, you can contact Ann-Marie Olufuwa on info@learningalive.co.za or 076 358 2634
Details: www.learningalive.co.za; www.powerindance.co.za
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