Safety comes at a price for these kids

POLOKWANE – Harrowing details have emerged of how street children are “trained” to be criminals in order to “earn” their right to safety.

A woman in the city was recently robbed with a knife by a young man she described as “around 16 years old”. She said during the incident, the boy said two men were watching the robbery.

“He said he did not want to hurt me, but that he would get hurt if he didn’t take something from me.”

The woman handed over her wallet and cellphone and requested to keep the keys to her house, to which the boy agreed.

A week later, she bumped into the same boy in a cafe in the area and convinced him to share his story.

The boy, who turns 16 years old next month, has been on the streets for several months.

“I met a man who promised to look after me and two other street kids. He took us to a house in Thabo Mbeki Street, and told us we could sleep there. He promised us food and a safe place to stay as long as we were willing to be taught how to make a living.”

Shortly afterwards, the boys were taken to the city streets, and “skilled” in the art of stealing: robbery out of motor vehicles or robberies of the personal belongings of passersby.

“After they stole something, they would give it to us to run away with. We always meet up afterwards.”

Initially, the boy said, they only delivered the stolen goods to the house where they stayed, but soon they had to scout for their own victims. “They said I had to start paying for my rent and food.”

“The price for “training” is tough.

“At my first robbery, I did not get the handbag from the woman I targeted. I received a beating later on in the day for my incompetence.” he said.

Once they proved themselves as efficient thieves, they would themselves start “training” younger boys to commit the same crimes. According to the boy, there are several street children housed by the group of men. He also claimed to know of other houses used for the same purpose.

Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt. Ntobeng Phala said the police were not aware of the “training” of street children. He urged residents who live near empty houses and who might know of suspicious activity, to come forward.