As part of the Jeffreys Bay Community Policing Forum’s social responsibility initiative and in a bid to educate young people about the negative effects of drug abuse and crime, the organisation recently visited four schools in Jeffreys Bay and plans to visit many more.
Luke Kivedo, vice chairperson of the Jeffreys Bay CPF, said that it was important for their organisation to visit local schools to raise awareness among young learners about the functions of the CPF and to educate them about various social ills that plague their community, such as drug abuse and crime.
On October 18, the CPF visited Pellrus Primary School and Makukhanye Primary School, while on October 19 they visited Jeffreys Bay Academy and Jeffreys Bay Comprehensive High School.
During each visit, Kivedo was accompanied by the CPF’s vice secretary, Mickyla Ellis, trauma counsellor, Nolan Barendse, who also recently joined the CPF, and the organisation’s community police officer (CPO), Sergeant Mveleli Ncana from the Jeffreys Bay Police Station, who was the main speaker during each visit to the various schools.
“We often visit schools in Jeffreys Bay and speak to the learners about bullying at school, cyber bullying, sexual harassment, and drug abuse,” said Kivedo.
“Sometimes we visit the schools as requested by teachers and principals, but we also do it on our own as part of our social responsibility.”
Kivedo said that during the recent school visits in October, the CPF team received an overwhelmingly good response from the learners, and they were treated with respect during each presentation.
To ensure that the learners remained engaged they had interactive exercises to allow them to draw sketches and discuss various scenarios.
During the interactive exercises, Kivedo said the learners were also required to ask questions and received rewards for their participation and for their feedback.
To establish an ongoing relationship with schools, learners from various high schools were interviewed by the Jeffreys Bay station commander, vispol commander, CPO and CPF to fulfil the roles of junior station commanders.
In 2021, five learners were selected but have only been able to fulfil their roles as junior station commanders since June this year, when the COVID-19 regulations were dropped.
Kivedo said that in the last few months the junior station commanders had hosted many events, alongside the CPF.
“The involvements of the junior station commanders at our events have acted as an effective tool for these learners to reach out to their peers,” said Kivedo.
The members include Jeffreys Bay Comprehensive High School learners, Siyanda Jack, as junior station commander, and Anathi Roxo, as junior detective branch commander, while the learners from Jeffreys Bay Academy include Siphosethu Speliti as a junior vispol commander, Davidene Dolph as junior MIC, and Vanessa Nyamadzawo as the junior support head commander.
“These junior commanders have been utilised as influencers among their peers and have often shared their stories to inspire other young people,” said Kivedo.
