Primrose Youth Prevention Crime Desk held its award ceremony at the Primrose Methodist Church to recognise the efforts of its members.
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They kick-started the event with a march from the Primrose CBD, handing over domestic violence and GBV pamphlets to residents as they concluded their 16 days of activism campaign of no violence against women and children.
The award ceremony programme kicked off at 12:30 with Hlompho Mohloai as the programme director.
Project manager Tlotliso Mokwena said as the year comes to an end the Youth Desk looks back at early programmes.
He said they focused on programmes that did not only bring change to the community but also promoted safety and condemned drug abuse among the youth.
“We visited local schools weekly to remove illegal items from schooling environments.
“The biggest challenge we faced this year was drug use, which led to unprecedented behaviour in the classrooms.
“We commend all the teachers and principals who welcomed us to their schools every time we knocked at their doors.
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“My favourite programme of the year was the Mandela Day activities where we visited the El-Shammah Home for Abandoned Babies.
“I would like to advise other youth in Primrose to join the team to bring the level of crime to a minimum around the town,” said Mokwena.
Social Crime coordinator, Sergeant Styles Maome, said the event aimed at recognising the work put in by the members throughout the year.
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He said Covid-19 has impacted the number of members who participated in the organisation.
“Throughout the year we received several domestic violence and gender-based violence complaints from all informal settlements under our jurisdictions. We continued to issue awareness pamphlets hoping they consider the message.
“We also hosted the GBV campaign at Delport informal settlement to address the matter,” said Maome.
“Our challenge is that young people who are supposed to be in the team are the ones who are partaking in these social ills and crimes we are trying to curb in our communities.
Alcohol, drugs and lack of discipline are playing a major role in destabilising our society.
“We call on the residents to be cautious this festive season and usher into 2023 safe and well. For any crime-related matters the station will remain open and functional even during holidays,” said Moame.
