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Speech by MEC Neer at the Youth Crime Summit
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC FOR PROVINCIAL SAFETY, LIAISON AND TRANSPORT
MR DENNIS NEER
AT THE YOUTH CRIME SUMMIT HELD IN EAST LONDON
 ON 18 APRIL 2001

This conference has come at a time when there are many issues and challenges facing the youth of our province and our country as a whole. 
One of the key challenges for our youth and through the type of programs we engage ourselves is to ensure that they become the leaders of 
tomorrow rather than getting involved in and be influenced by criminal activity.

It is unfortunate that the criminals with smart cars and clothing have become the role models for many of our children. This must change.

Prior to 1994 the youth of our society as a collective were actively involved in the struggle to liberate our country and to becoming a 
democratic society, however the concept of collectivism and active involvement in government seems to have dwindled.

My appeal to you is to rekindle the activist spirits of our youth as was demonstrated pre 1994.

The rate and intensity of violence involving young people has escalated dramatically. Young people have become both the perpetrators and 
the victims of crime in South Africa. Much of the violence against young people is committed by other young people.

This crime wave includes sexual violence, property related crimes as well as other serious violent crimes. When we start searching for 
causes of violence in our society, poverty and lack of jobs certainly play a part. But crime is not limited to the poor and jobless.

Extensive research points to the pervasive influence of entertainment espousing violence. Rap groups sing songs about killing police 
officers and violence against women. In popular video games figurines are chopping off each others heads further inculcating a culture of 
violence in the minds of our youth.

Research shows that violence on the screen leads to violence in the real word. Watching these types of progammes, portraying violence, 
contributes to rising levels of aggression amongst our young people who have already been exposed to societal and institutionalised 
violence of the previous regime who neglected the majority of the youth.

Youth forums

We are urging the youth to become involved and join our community police forums and forming youth CPFs. Get the help of youth leaders to 
co-ordinate the functioning of the youth forum. The SAPS at a Provincial Level has a SAPS member designated to coordinate youth programmes 
and I want you to interact with them to co-ordinate your activities.

The success of any youth programme is dependant on a safe and secure environment. By participating in a youth forum young people will be 
exposed and empowered and inducted into the ranks of community policing. This is important since the negative stigma of policing must now 
be reviewed and our youth be encouraged to work with the SAPS and also to stimulate an interest in a career within the SAPS to uphold what 
they have assisted in bringing about - our democratic society.

Cultural factors

Young people are influenced by the pervading societal norms, values and culture. Conflicts between cultures can contribute to stress in 
young people and to problem behavior. Not only conflicts between different cultures, but mixed messages from the same culture can be a 
negative influence or behavior.

Our cultural heritage provides essential building blocks for the development of identities in young people. Pride in cultural heritage 
encourages young people to carry on the traditions of their families and neighborhoods. Shame or embarrassment about cultural heritage can 
lead young people towards strong rebellion against family values, traditions and customary behaviors. These values that we speak of are not 
foreign but begins with the family - moving back to family and community - centeredness as opposed to "Whats in it for me." We need a 
revitalising of the spirit and culture of Ubuntu. We have to help our youth to find the value of knowing, understanding and appreciating 
the riches of our culture and the place that it has in a modern society.

Institutions like the Youth Commission must increase their visibility and profile in youth-related matters. They must be the mouth-piece 
for all matters that affect our youth. Programmes by the Commission must amongst others must focus on youth crimes both to rehabilitate 
youth offenders as well as empowering youth victims thereof.

What can we do

We as young adults must assist to

* Protect children against the many dangers that beset them
* Keep tabs on the exposure to violent books, comics, music, TV programs, or movies
* Provide professional assistance to deal with violent people and begin healing our society
* Teach our children to be a part of a safer, less violent society.

But our role must be broader if we are going to be effective in addressing matters affecting youth in an holistic manner.

We must ensure that we utilise our institutions of education and learning to the fullest.

Quote from Presidents speech dated 25 June 1999 inauguration speech :

"Many people including our youth, died and sacrificed for the realisation of this objective. They did so because they understood the 
importance for themselves and all our communities of the right to freedom from ignorance. Consistent with this correct view we must ensure 
that education and training constitute the decisive drivers in our effort to build a winning nation."

In conclusion I want to urge you that the deliberations and resolutions today must not be theoretical documents, but rather living 
documents that will effect change to our youth and society in general.

The involvement of the youth in crime particularly requires us to look inward. I want to quote a philosopher who wisely put it:

"He who gains a victory over other men is strong, but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful" Lao Tse (philospher)

This calls on us to channel our efforts as the youth to assess how we impact on improving our lives and our communities.

Finally we also have a responsibility not just to interact with youth organisations in other provinces of South Africa but also other 
African States with the aim of promoting and realising the African Rennaisance.

Be proud to be in Africa but more so be proud to be an African.

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