The eThekwini Municipality’s Safer Cities and Community Participation and Action Support Units hosted a Crime Prevention Awareness Campaign at the Umlazi’s M section community hall. Ward 83 Councillor, Nomvuzo Shabalala and various Municipal officials were in attendance.
The aim of the campaign was to create awareness on the dangers of crime and how the community should respond to the scourge whilst also encouraging youngsters to steer clear from criminal activity and substance abuse.
Cllr Shabalala who chairs the Health, Safety and Social Services Committee, said that the abuse of women was prevalent in this particular part of the township as she highlighted three such cases, one of which ended in tragedy.
“A young girl was murdered by her boyfriend, chopped into pieces and then ditched in several spots in the section. However, the alleged perpetrator is walking free today as the courts could not find sufficient evidence” said Shabalala.
Shabalala added that crime prevention was one of the Municipality’s priorities saying that communities should also work closely with the security forces to bring criminals to book.
There was also a call for the provision of well-run development structures for the youth to empower themselves so that they stay away from the streets where they could be exposed to elements that could lead them to a life of drugs and criminal activities.
Mdu Ndwandwe of Safer Cities Unit said that the Unit tries to engage the community through its Ward Profiling programme. The community is asked to identify problem areas in which they face challenges with regards to crime and help find solutions. The crystal clear message to the community was to expose criminals.
Three former young convicts shared their experiences with the youth, encouraging them to stay clear of crime.