“My dream job is to be a Metro Cop and catch skollies who bring down our communities.”
This is the ambition of Alfonso Mthethwa, 19, from Khayelitsha who is among a group of teens from across the Cape Flats who is participating in the Metro Police Youth Cadet Programme.
Alfonso, who has been a cadet for four years, says he still remembers the first day he attended one of the many camps hosted by the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate in Zandvlei.
“Growing up in Khayelitsha is very hard. There are always skollies and criminals who try to get you to join them.
“I was at Harry Gwala High School and my principal told me about [the cadet programme]. I filled in the forms and got in and I have never left.
ROLE MODEL IN COMMUNITY: Sergeant Alfonso Mthethwa
“Every two weeks we go to the base in Observatory where we learn drills, life skills and leadership skills.
“It made me want to be a role model in my community and helped me focus on what it is important, like my school work.”
The young man, who is now a Sergeant, on Saturday assisted Metro Police Chief, Wayne le Roux and City safety boss, JP Smith, to train 40 new recruits.
Le Roux called on teens to wear their uniforms with pride: “With your uniform comes a responsibility. And as we welcome you into our family we hope to see many of you as future Metro Police officers, Law Enforcement or Traffic officers.”
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT: City safety boss JP Smith
Smith explains the project was established in 2013, on the back of numerous successful Metro Police youth camps.
Learners who showed the most improvement in behaviour and discipline are selected to register as youth cadets.
The new recruits will increase the number of cadets to more than 200.
Smith says kids at risk are joined by some who do academically well and they do marching and drilling and hold talks “where we focus on respect, decision making, teenage pregnancy and other issues”.