A significant gathering took place at Jukulyn Hall in Soshanguve, aimed at combating crime in the area.
The Tshwane District Social Crime Prevention office, in partnership with the Community Police Forum (Partners in Policing), Youth Crime Prevention Task Unit, and local churches, hosted a Crime Prevention initiative that brought together various stakeholders to address the pressing issue of crime in Jukulyn.
The event was part of a broader effort by the Rietgat South African Police Services (SAPS), Gauteng Traffic Wardens, and the Community Police Forum to implement measures to fight crime in the area.
By engaging with the community and leveraging the influence of local churches, the organisers hoped to inspire a sense of collective responsibility and spiritual renewal, ultimately contributing to a safer and more harmonious Jukulyn.
“We are tackling crime from a different angle with our Spiritual Crime Prevention project. As spiritual beings, we need to fight crime spiritually too. We are working closely with spiritual leaders to engage with community members, who are attending churches, Sergeant Kenneth Manyemula, Social Crime Coordinator, explained.
“We discuss crime, identify areas for improvement within SAPS, and explore ways the community can also improve. It’s a joint effort to combat crime.”
“The recent attacks on churches highlight the need for strategies to protect places of worship and leverage their support for our early learning programmes. We need spiritual leaders to help prevent crime affecting our youth and communities,” added Manyemula.
By collaborating with churches and schools, we can promote spirituality and prevent crime through joint initiatives.”
Mr Ntandoyenkosi Mpisane, Chairperson of the Youth Crime Prevention Task Unit at Rietgat SAPS, said that they recognised a critical need to address the spiritual well-being of our youth, Through stakeholder meetings.
“We identified a lack of spiritual strength among young people, leading to concerns about respect and morals. Our Spiritual Crime Prevention event brought together junior and senior secondary schools, targeting problematic children for prayer and guidance from elderly community members. We aimed to show them a vision of life without education, respect, and morals, and encourage positive change.”
“What sets this initiative apart is its focus on preventing crime amongst youth through spiritual strategies and tactics, rather than simply addressing existing crime issues in Jukulyn. By focusing on the root causes and providing spiritual support, we hope to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our young people and the community at large,” Mpisane concluded.
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