Young learners from schools in Hermanus have been appointed as junior police commanders as part of an initiative to improve safety at schools.
Captain Fadila September, spokesperson for the Hermanus police, explained that the initiative was launched by the Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile. It is a joint venture in cooperation with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
Grade 8 learners of Hawston, Qhayiya Secondary Schools and Hermanus High were asked to write essays on bullying. Those who wrote the best essays then had to do a presentation before a panel of judges. On the basis of this the judges selected the junior station commander, junior visible policing unit head, junior support services head and the junior detective commander.
Riané Willemse of Hermanus High was appointed junior station commander, Lisakhanya Boyi of Hermanus High was elected as junior head of detectives, Hope Willemse of Hawston Secondary School as support services head and Jordan Bischoff from Hermanus High as junior Vispol commander.
Learners who participate in the project will compete through four levels of competition. It starts with the appointment of junior station commanders, then progresses to district and provincial commander.
The National Police Commissioner will appoint the Junior National Commissioner at the end of the competition.
Each learner will have the opportunity to meet their senior counterpart to learn more about what their job entails.
“The junior leaders will assist the police with safety initiatives at their respective schools,” September stated and added: “They will also have to participate in events across the district.”
