We must protect our children. This was the rousing call that came from the convoy of Spinners who visited the home of murdered Tazne van Wyk’s parents last weekend.
There is no other more important place to protect our children than when they are out on the streets. In the ghetto, sometimes the streets are the only place to play, and kids as we know must play.
Not only must we protect them from violent perpetrators, but from the daily danger of cars winding their way through the narrow streets where the laaities play.
First thing to do is to make sure they are visible, that they wear bright clothing and move around in groups, never alone. Educate them about staying clear of cars, and walk with them to show them where the dangerous zones are, places where they must be even more aware.
Make sure that speeding is frowned on, that mense know there is no tolerance for people who drive fast.
And make sure to get your children off the street way before it’s dark, before that time when it’s difficult to see small shapes moving around.
It is us adults who must go out of our way to make it safe for our children, no one else can do it. Even though we tell them about safety, we can’t expect them to remember all the time, they’re kids after all, so we must keep watch.