Adults have to take the lead in showing and reassuring children that they are safe in their own communities.
This was the message the Schaapkraal Safety Forum (SSF) issued on Friday, as it held a Youth Day event for kids in their area.
Over 250 children from Schaapkraal, New Horizons and Egoli informal settlement were treated to a day of fun.
Chairman of the SSF, Redaa Ameeroedien, says they brought the children together to show there is no division in the area.
“We spent the day with the children to form relationships with them. They had music, entertainment, many local businesses came forth and donated toiletries to the children, party packets were given and all young girls received sanitary towels,” he says.
“We felt the need to reach out and show the children they are a part of our community.
“Children do not ask to be in the situations they are brought up in, but we as the SSF felt we have to make them feel we are here for them, they do not have to feel isolated."
A data drive was also held to collect information about the children.
“With the spate of recent child killings we felt the need to capture all children’s information in and around our area should anything happen.
“In collaboration with Missing Persons SA, we took the fingerprints, picture and information of all the children.
“This information can then be given to SAPS and all necessary emergency services from our database. We also now know how many children are in the area,” Ameeroedien says.
The kids marched along Strandfontein Road with placards, saying that kids should be loved and nurtured, not abused and killed.
After the event, the SSF team went into Egoli, Phumlani Village and Jim se Bos to hand out food.
“We had so many things left over and decided to hand it out to the families in our area. We need the community to understand we are not the enemy.
“The communities are split by crime and we came together as a team, many from other areas, to show residents we are here to help and assist in any and every way we can,” Ameeroedien added.