Cops Fight Crime By Training Youth

Over 200 unemployed youth will acquire business skills in Potchefstroom, North West as part of an initiative to draw them away from crime, police said Tuesday.

About 234 youth from across the country had already enrolled to undergo a year-long training programme to lure them away from crime, said spokesman Director Selby Bokaba in a statement.

"Instead of focusing on crime prevention as it has previously, SA Police Service decided to also address the contributing factors to crime, youth unemployment and poverty."

The programme included skills development, entrepreneurship, sustainable business identification, small business development, mentoring and coaching. It targeted people between the ages of 18 and 35.

"At the end of the programme, the participating youth should be able to deliver 50 new sustainable ventures."

Police training division Commissioner Gary Kruser added: "Because of boredom, unemployed youth start engaging in illegal activities. We decided to draw them away from that and involve them  in programmes that will benefit and empower them to start their own  businesses."

The initiative is a joint venture between the police, the Safety  and Security Sector Education and Training Authority and Madyatshamile Holdings.