Alarm over juvenile crime in Karas

MEMBER of Parliament Peya Mushelenga has expressed dismay over the soaring rate of juvenile crime in Karas Region.

Officiating at a three-day crime prevention workshop at Keetmanshoop last weekend, Mushelenga urged people in the region to involve themselves in crime prevention to complement Government’s efforts. “Crime is a national problem that should be addressed by all sectors in our society,” he said.According to crime statistics quoted by Mushelenga, 10 cases of unauthorised possession of firearms, 16 cases of pointing firearms and four cases of murder with a firearm were committed by juveniles in the Karas Region last year.”This does not augur well for peace and stability,” Mushelenga said.He said most juvenile crimes were related to substance abuse.”Dangerous substances disturb the minds of our youth and turn them into hardcore criminals,” he said.The Member of Parliament added that 16 cases of dagga dealing and 106 cases of dagga possession involving juvenile offenders were reported last year.”If this situation continues unabated, then the safety and security of the nation is under great threat,” he said.In addition, he said that 163 juveniles were arrested on charges of stock theft, and 13 on charges of car theft last year.More than 1 000 other cases of theft were reported in Karas in 2006.Mushelenga strongly decried white-collar crime.”This is an ugly phenomenon of fraud and corruption,” he said.”Crime is crime and there is no smart crime.”Member of Parliament Ida Hofmann, in conjunction with southern traditional leaders, organised the workshop as part of their campaign to curb juvenile crime, drug and alcohol abuse in the region.A former convict who is now a well-known motivational speaker, Gayton Mckenzie, inspired the youth to focus on education to fulfil their dreams.Mckenzie became a motivational speaker after he served a nine-year sentence for bank robbery at one of the maximum prisons in South Africa.”Crime is a national problem that should be addressed by all sectors in our society,” he said.According to crime statistics quoted by Mushelenga, 10 cases of unauthorised possession of firearms, 16 cases of pointing firearms and four cases of murder with a firearm were committed by juveniles in the Karas Region last year.”This does not augur well for peace and stability,” Mushelenga said.He said most juvenile crimes were related to substance abuse.”Dangerous substances disturb the minds of our youth and turn them into hardcore criminals,” he said.The Member of Parliament added that 16 cases of dagga dealing and 106 cases of dagga possession involving juvenile offenders were reported last year.”If this situation continues unabated, then the safety and security of the nation is under great threat,” he said.In addition, he said that 163 juveniles were arrested on charges of stock theft, and 13 on charges of car theft last year.More than 1 000 other cases of theft were reported in Karas in 2006.Mushelenga strongly decried white-collar crime.”This is an ugly phenomenon of fraud and corruption,” he said.”Crime is crime and there is no smart crime.”Member of Parliament Ida Hofmann, in conjunction with southern traditional leaders, organised the workshop as part of their campaign to curb juvenile crime, drug and alcohol abuse in the region.A former convict who is now a well-known motivational speaker, Gayton Mckenzie, inspired the youth to focus on education to fulfil their dreams.Mckenzie became a motivational speaker after he served a nine-year sentence for bank robbery at one of the maximum prisons in South Africa.