Many young people in communities such as Matholesville experience conditions that compromise their well-being and development, while most children are exposed to violence, neglect and abuse.
The Matholesville youth safety dialogue was prepared and organised by Siyabonga James who believes that community dialogues are an effective strategy for identifying and addressing child-protection needs.
According to Siyabonga, the youth safety dialogue’s purpose and objectives are to help develop local young people, and most importantly to create business and job opportunities for them.
The dialogue was held at the Matholesville community hall on Friday, June 24 in the presence of some stakeholders who were invited by the organisers.
They were Roodepoort Police Social Crime Prevention coordinator, Sector Manager and Youth Crime Prevention Desk; City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Siqalo opportunity centre; the Secretary General of the ANC branch executive committee (BEC); the CoJ Youth Directorate from JMPD headquarters; and CoJ Emergency Management Services (EMS).
A crime overview was done by Sergeant Juliet Mogale, Roodepoort Police Social Crime Prevention coordinator alongside their acting Sector Manager Sergeant Gordon Sadike.
Following the keynote address from the Youth Crime Prevention Desk, business administration and opportunities were explained by a representative from CoJ Siqalo opportunity centre which is under the Department of Economic Development.
The youth safety and development opportunities were presented by CoJ’s Department of Public Safety Youth Directorate Tebogo Morake (JMPD), and Lufuno Maphagela (EMS).
Siyabonga told the Record that youth safety and development, as well as safety on Main Reef Road where traffic lights/ points duty officers are needed to assist learners and other pedestrians in the morning and after school topped the agenda.
“Sports development and recreational activities, including arts and culture are also among our top priorities,” said Siyabonga.
