Keetmans street kids a concern

THE growing number of children roaming the streets at the southern town of Keetmanshoop has elicited mixed responses from residents.

Residents expressed different sentiments on the issue at a community meeting held last week at the town’s Westdene residential area. Some of the residents demanded that the Police round up the street children.”We want action instead of excuses such as a shortage of Police vans,” said one resident, Cecil Vries.But others disagreed.Councillor Arnold Losper said the rights of streets children should be respected.”They too have the right of free movement,” he remarked.Another resident, Maria Konjore, argued that the cause of the problem must be identified before solutions are found.Some of the people felt that spiritual and community leaders should be involved in addressing the problem.”The way kids grow up also plays a role when children turn into street kids,” resident Frikkie Mouton remarked.The community felt that the number of thefts committed by street children had increased.Attempts to obtain comment from the Ministry of Child Welfare’s social worker dealing with street children were fruitless.Some of the residents demanded that the Police round up the street children.”We want action instead of excuses such as a shortage of Police vans,” said one resident, Cecil Vries.But others disagreed.Councillor Arnold Losper said the rights of streets children should be respected.”They too have the right of free movement,” he remarked.Another resident, Maria Konjore, argued that the cause of the problem must be identified before solutions are found.Some of the people felt that spiritual and community leaders should be involved in addressing the problem.”The way kids grow up also plays a role when children turn into street kids,” resident Frikkie Mouton remarked.The community felt that the number of thefts committed by street children had increased.Attempts to obtain comment from the Ministry of Child Welfare’s social worker dealing with street children were fruitless.