Crime fighting structures in Khayelitsha are appealing to parents to monitor their children, after the number of children who are implicated in wrongdoings continue to surge.
According to Khayelitsha police, children between the ages of 13 and 15 are involved in criminal activities, including the robbing and stoning of Uber drivers.
This emerged during an imbizo organised by the police in partnership with the Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum and the local neighbourhood. The gathering was at Sosebenza Primary School in Site B and mainly targeted residents from K, L and M sections.
Khayelitsha station commander Brig Mnoneleli Magobiyane stated that the aim is to work together with the community to find a solution.
“We have a challenge of young children who are robbing Uber drivers in these areas. They steal other people’s profile pictures from Facebook and request Uber. When the Uber arrives they rob the driver and even stone their cars,” says Magobiyane.
In most cases, he states that they catch the culprits and hand them back to their parents due to their ages.
Khayelitsha SCPF member and leader of Lukhanyiselo Zion Church of God in Africa Rev Nozikhungo Tshona urged parents to monitor their children.
She said crime is everyone’s business. “We cannot rely on the police only. As communities we need to stand up and be responsible as the citizens of this nation,” she said.
Resident from K section Andile Kose blamed substances for the challenges faced by the community. He stated that some of the children are affiliated to gangs.
“Sometimes these children are forced by their older brothers to rob people. We believe there are people who are behind all these incidents,” he stated, and urged residents to reclaim their streets from the criminals.