Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? Stiek uit jou bang ding! In recent months Mitchells Plain communities have experienced a disturbing number of shooting deaths and other crimes involving guns. Many of these incidents have involved young people. Listening to residents confirmed that people generally feel that Mitchells Plain is a safe place. It was also clear that community safety is an issue that troubles many Mitchells Plain residents. Even though overall crime has actually decreased in many areas, we cannot ignore the tragic loss of life and serious injury that has resulted from the increased prevalence of guns in our area. The Mitchells Plain Cluster SAPS is dedicated to keeping our streets safe, to stopping the illegal importation and use of guns, stemming from the drug trade and the violence which is associated with it, improving public cooperation with criminal investigations and protecting all residents, including those most at risk of being victims or becoming involved in illegal activities. The Service needs and deserves our full support in its efforts. There is, however, much more that must be done. The President, Premier, Mayor must take decisive action to address the violence, and every resident of Mitchells Plain must become an active partner in stemming the violence and increasing the peace. The causes of crime are a complex mix of social and economic factors. Thus, solutions must also be multi-faceted. To be successful, the City’s approach to improving community safety must balance enforcement with prevention. The central role of the Mitchells Plain Cluster Police Service in enforcing the law must be complemented by an effective blend of programs and services – particularly for youth who live in at-risk neighbourhoods. An effective strategy must build on the strengths in our neighbourhoods, and must engage parents, agencies and youth in determining the fate and future of our communities. The strategy must acknowledge that there are no quick fixes and no ‘one size fits all’ solutions. The plan must recognize the need to address all forms of public violence, but must focus on immediate, short and long-term initiatives that address immediate concerns – the recent increase in gun violence and incidents of violence where young people are involved. We must recognize that significantly increasing economic opportunities for young people is critical to the success of any strategy. At a recent public meeting, a youth was quoted as saying, “It’s easier to get a gun than a job”. This must be a wake-up call for Government, bussiness, council and for the public, private, and voluntary sectors to act on employment opportunities and program initiatives. Michael Jacobs
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 08:24:46 +0000
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