Meet Greenwood Park’s first junior commissioner
Top honours were claimed by Effingham Secondary School pupil, Shival Pramjeeth.
ON Wednesday last week, four pupils from several schools within the Greenwood Park area battled it out for the top spot as the first ever junior commmissioner for the Greenwood Park police station.
However, in the end the top honours were claimed by Effingham Secondary School pupil, Shival Pramjeeth.
Second and third places were nabbed by fellow Effingham pupil, Sinothando Ncokwana, and Samkelisiwe Sithole of Parkhill Secondary School.
Station commander, Col Mbongeni Mngadi, said he hoped that the government-based initiative would enable the SAPS and youth to join forces against crime.
“We do not ask that the pupils become informants for the police, nor do we expect them to arrest criminals. The aim is simply for the junior commissioner to act as a liaison between the police and the youth of the community. We hope that they will enlighten us on shortcomings in terms of crime prevention techniques, how we can improve our education among the youth and to alert us to any criminal activities and issues within the schools that they come across. We hope to eradicate all forms of threats and violence within our schools,” he said.
Mngadi said that he will provide regular mentorship for Pramjeeth during the teen’s two-year tenure.
The four pupils (Grade 8 to 10) who competed in the finals last week had to beat dozens of other pupils from Parkhill Secondary School, Avoca Secondary School, Effingham Secondary School and Sea Cow Lake Secondary School during the schools’ internal selection processes as well as the semi-finals, held two weeks ago.
The competitors were judged based on their opinions, values, level of empathy, persuasive language skills, body language and knowledge regarding crime and related issues.
Pramjeeth’s speech regarding pupils’ ‘Unspoken Fears’ earned him the title of Greenwood Park SAPS’s junior commissioner.
He spoke confidently about bullying, victimisation and the repercussions of one’s actions, as well as the fear of authority.
Related articles:
Greening project welcomed by Kwa-Mathambo residents
Crime fighter, Leon, ‘walks the talk’
Durban North resident tells of police harassment
