August 24, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
YOUNG Joburgers are being targeted by the City Safety Strategy in a bid to encourage them not to turn to crime.
The strategy is part of the City's safety programme, established in the office of the member of the mayoral committee for public safety and funded by Joburg's economic development unit. It aims "to address problems related to crime and also address problems facing youth in the city", according to Nazira Cachalia, the programme manager in the unit.
"The City's safety strategy identified youth as a priority in preventing crime in Johannesburg after studies revealed that the ... perpetrators of crime were mostly youth. As the City, if we want to address issues of safety, there needs to be focus on how we can keep the youth away from crime."
About 4 000 juveniles are released from prison nationally each month. According to the Department of Correctional Services, 95 percent of prisoners are released from prison; of these, between 80 percent and 85 percent re-offend.
In addition, the South African Police Service says crime statistics in Johannesburg show that the number of young offenders is increasing.
As a result, as one of the implementation pillars of the safety strategy the City has looked at a number of crime prevention options to keep young people on the straight and narrow. Among the programmes on offer in the youth justice system, diversion strategies have been seen as effective.
"The diversion programme mainly focuses on youth at risk, that is, youth who are susceptible to becoming criminals. Some of these youth are first time offenders involved in petty crimes and the programme is meant to assist them so they don't necessarily go to jail and have a criminal record," Cachalia explains.
With its department of social development, the City forged a partnership with Khulisa Services, a Section 21 company, to set up its safety programme.
Khulisa, an isiZulu word meaning to nurture, was established in 1997. It has initiated and implemented a number of crime prevention programmes targeted at "youth at risk, youth in conflict with the law, disadvantaged communities and unemployed youth".
According to its website, Khulisa, in its efforts to reduce crime in South Africa, has forged partnerships with the government departments of correctional services, education, foreign affairs, health, justice, social welfare and population development, safety and liaison, housing and labour.
It has run diversion programmes in Alexandra, Meadowlands and Randburg, thanks to funding from USAid. However, a lack of support resulted in these programmes closing in April 2004.
Cachalia says the diversion programme will be implemented in Westbury, a western suburb, and in the townships of Soweto and Alexandra. "Due to the number of youths at risk in these areas, we decided to focus on [them]. Hopefully, the programme will be expanded to other areas."
The purposes of diversion programmes, according to Schedule 48 of the Child Justice Bill, are to:
- Encourage the child to be accountable for the harm caused;
- Meet the particular needs of the individual child;
- Promote reintegration of the child into family and the community;
- Provide an opportunity for those affected by crime to express their feelings about it;
- Encourage giving the victim some symbolic benefit or compensation;
- Prevent stigmatisation and negative consequences for the child; and
- Prevent the child from having a criminal record.
Cachalia explains that the diversion programme will teach the youngster a set of life skills that will enable him to question whether he wants to continue along the path of criminality or change his lifestyle.
It will also attempt to identify and, where possible, deal with the risks a young person faces through equipping him with the necessary life skills.
There are two primary Khulisa diversion interventions that involve facilitated programmes run over a number of weeks.
Besides the 15 sessions that run between two to three hours each, which involve activities and discussions, homework and life application tasks, the programme includes guided prison visits where youths are introduced to prisoners, usually juveniles, to hear about their criminal lives and life in prison.
Children are offered mentoring support by trained youth leaders, who serve as confidants and positive role models for the duration of the programme. A series of parent workshops are offered, with topics designed to meet their needs.
Parents and children are given the opportunity to speak out about their experiences, hopes and fears during family conferences. Where possible, family days are also organised "that bring children and their families together in a spirit of communion and fun".
Participants are given the chance to give something back to the community, through opportunities identified by community members and organisations. Khulisa's catchline for this programme is, "These hands that have offended can now serve my community."
At the end of the programme, all successful graduates attend a ceremony, where they can give personal testimonies and receive certificates.
Cachalia says all administrative work has been done and trainees for the diversion programme have been identified.
"The programme is expected to begin running from September this year and funding will be provided by the City of Johannesburg. We also expect the community and business people to promote constructive opportunities for the youth to remain in an environment that keeps them busy so that they don't become youths at risk."
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