Kabokweni, Mpumalanga : Mpumalanga learners were today recognised for their commitment and active participation in an experiential learning social crime prevention initiative, the Communities and Justice Programme (CJP). This Safer South Africa’s (SSAF) flagship programme is aimed at strengthening school safety, civic responsibility and youth leadership.
“We are pleased that 83 Hlanganani High School learners persevered and successfully completed the intensive 12-day crime prevention programme. This brings the total number of learners reached to more than 8,000 across Mpumalanga over the past five years,” says SSAF CEO Riah Phiyega. The learners were inducted as Safety Ambassadors within their school.
Hlanganani High is the 11th school in Mpumalanga to benefit from the programme, the 3rd in the Kabokweni area.
The programme is designed to give young people a practical understanding of South Africa’s criminal justice system, while helping them develop the skills and confidence to become active participants in safer schools and communities.
Throughout the programme, learners engaged directly with representatives from the following institutions:
- South African Police Service (SAPS) — Kabokweni and Provincial Crime Prevention Office
- Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
- National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
- Magistracy — Mbombela Magistrate’s Court
- Department of Correctional Services — Barberton Correctional Centre
- Banking Association South Africa — Member bank Nedbank
According to Advocate Antoinette Nkosi of the NPA, initially, three learners were mischievous and disruptive, but the group settled down after we intervened. “The learners were mostly interested in two things: they wanted to know the typical sentences for certain crimes, and during the mock court activity, they noticed the different roles played by court officials. They then asked many career-related questions,” she added.
The experiential learning component included a visit to the Mbombela Magistrate’s Court, where learners observed live proceedings and participated in a mock court exercise. They also visited the Barberton Correctional Centre, where they interacted with correctional officials and inmates to better understand the consequences of criminal behaviour.
In addition, learners received financial literacy training facilitated by Nedbank, covering responsible financial management, saving and informed decision-making.
As part of the programme’s next phase, learners were required to submit essays on the topic:
“What can learners do to stop crime in their community and school?”
Top-performing essays will be evaluated by stakeholders, with selected learners advancing to the Youth4SaferSouthAfrica Debate and Leadership Development Programme.
Debating equips young people with critical thinking, public speaking and leadership skills, while encouraging active citizenship and advocacy on crime prevention and community safety.
Addressing learner dignity and safety
The wider programme has also responded to the challenge of uniform poverty. Through stakeholder mobilisation, 400 pairs of school shoes were distributed to learners across six schools in Mpumalanga, helping restore dignity and improve participation in educational activities.
Speaking on the impact of the initiative, Mr Zwedi Nxumalo, teacher and school coordinator at Hlanganani High School, said the programme arrived at a critical time for the school.
He added that engagements made a meaningful difference in learners’ understanding of bullying, discipline and the justice system. “This programme came at a critical time, as we had been facing serious challenges related to learner conduct, safety and external influences from the surrounding community,” Nxumalo concluded.
