Zandspruit community came to discuss problems in the community and will soon discuss solutions to the problems raised.
The Zandspruit youth hosted a Imbizo on 14 March at Masakhane Primary School to discuss problems in the area.
“Zandspruit has always been a place without hope but it is up to us as the youth to make a difference in this place,” said Ntswaki Phooko, member of the Zandspruit Community Base Support Team, and who organised the event.
Master of Ceremony Ntswaki Phooko addresses the crowd at the Zandspruit youth Imbizo.
The problem areas highlighted are:
Teenage pregnancy
Drugs and substance abuse
Youth ignorance
Lack of government information
High crime rate
Lack of police visibility
Need of a high school
Need for the youth to participate more in economic development
“I want to be here all the time for all youth initiatives in this community because there are lots of problems here and the youth go through awful things. This Imbizo is wonderful and is the first big step toward changing this society for the better,” said Ward 114 councillor Maureen Scheemann.
Ward 114 councillor Maureen Scheemann says the youth Imbizo is the first step to uplifting Zandspruit.
Among the stakeholders that attended the event was Ignite Africa, a non-profit organisation determined to help Zandspruit youth by offering them skills to make a living.
“As Ignite Africa, our main aim is to instil hope and uplift the Zandspruit community through skills. This community has lots of bright people and we don’t want that to go to waste. We want them to wake up and do things themselves without waiting for the government,” said Ignite Africa co-founder Jeanette Chabalala.
Other organisations that attended are the South African Police Services, the Gauteng Department of Health, Love Life, Project Hope and L5.
“Without supporters, our road will have potholes but if everyone can come on board, we will better the community of Zandspruit,”said David Mangena of the Zandspruit Community Base Support Team, thanking stakeholders at the event.
The team will meet on 20 March to discuss solutions to the problems highlighted at the Imbizo.
If you want to help the youth of Zandspruit contact David Mangena on 072 035 2317.
