As the country celebrates Youth Day on June 16, a tribute to the school learners who lost their lives during the June 16, 1976 uprising in Soweto, it is an opportune time to consider the safety of our \u00a0own youth in 2019 – \u00a0particularly in light of the recent stabbing at a high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafety is a priority and must be top of mind for everyone, particularly teenagers and young adults who are especially vulnerable to crime,\u201d said Charnel Hattingh, national marketing and communications manager for Fidelity ADT.<\/p>
\u201cThe events which unfolded at the high school are sadly not new and point to the fact that schools in South Africa are becoming more violent and dangerous for both teachers and learners.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, admitted that the 2018 spate of stabbings and attacks at learning institutions across South Africa was cause for major concern.\u201d<\/p>
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Children\u2019s rights in the spotlight this Child Protection Week<\/a><\/p>\n Have you ever wondered what to do in the event of becoming a victim of an attack?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hattingh said Fidelity ADT regularly conducts routine educational sessions or searches at schools to empower students to say no to drugs and violence.<\/p>\n \u201cParents and educators all play a vital role in encouraging communication and clamping down on both substance abuse, as well as the carrying of dangerous weapons by learners at schools,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She provided the following advice for Youth Month:<\/p>\n \u2022 Monitor your child or teenager\u2019s social media feeds to protect them from predators and bullies.<\/p>\n \u2022 Educate your children about the dangers and risks associated with taking drugs.<\/p>\n \u2022 Stamp out the carrying of any type of weapon which could cause harm.<\/p>\n \u2022 Instil an ethos of zero tolerance to violence and drugs.<\/p>\n \u2022 Encourage fee and open communication amongst your teenagers so they feel empowered to talk out on issues and report abuse.<\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n