Capt Khumalo visits primary schools
Puppet and his master visit primary schools to increase children's awareness of the importance of safety.
The puppet Capt Khumalo recently visited Laerskool Jan van Riebeeck and Laerskool PAM Brink to talk about safety.
“Capt Khumalo is a trusted character who is used to address several safety issues, primarily driven by a crime prevention approach,” says WO Granville Meyer, from Border Police, Cape Town International Airport.
He initiated the programme in 2015.
He says Capt Khumalo is not an authoritarian figure, but rather reassuring and engaging.
“My commitment to child safety and crime prevention makes me the ideal partner for Capt Khumalo,” says Meyer.
He says he designed the programme to educate children between three and 12 years of age on a range of safety issues.
The programme is also designed to encourage them to turn to the police for help and advice.
“It is all about teaching children how to ‘stay okay’, how they can make the right choices in recognising there are consequences associated with the decisions we make,” says Meyer.
Capt Khumalo also provides them with a level of awareness of appropriate safety behaviours, to prevent them from becoming victims or perpetrators of crime.
The duo recently visited Pretoria and decided stop over in Springs to introduce Capt Khumalo to the children.
“I use the puppet to talk to children and help them to identify people in their community who they can go to for help, such as teachers, police and sports coaches.”
He feels strongly that children should be made aware of good people in uniform and with name badges.
“Children should be able to ask these people for help,” says Meyer.
The children received many important messages from Capt Khumalo’s visit, including how to be safe on the street.
Capt Khumalo also pointed out to the children that their bodies are private and should not be touched by anyone.
“The children had a great time.
“They are already asking for Capt Khumalo to come back for another visit,” says Meyer.
