Start effort to fight gangsterism

AS much as I can understand that it would be unfair to keep your four-year-old inside all the time, I feel the mother of the child who died at the weekend should have kept him inside knowing that gangsters are roaming freely and shooting mercilessly ("Boy, 4, killed and two wounded by gangsters", March 24).

Further to this I feel that the police should gain backbone and deliver the services they were trained for, namely to protect communities and to restore order where it is non-existent.

I would like to encourage them to take a stance and go out there, protect the innocent people and make the northern areas a better place to live in.

I have seen the talent coming from the northern areas and I know that not all of them are lured into the temptations of gang-related activities thinking that their lives could be enriched in a short space of time.

It boggles my mind to know that there are government departments such as the Department of Social Development, the Department of Education and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture who can actually stand together and provide entertainment for the youngsters during school holidays.

These could include library activities for little ones, visits to parks (such as Happy Valley), visits to Holmeleigh Farm, a weekend at the Van Stadens Holiday Resort, concerts by local artists, games and the list goes on, but nobody comes forward to try to alleviate gangsterism, something so rife, so fearful, so intimidating.

I am a firm believer that poverty is the cause of crime and that it will prevail as long as government does not step in and save the children from tomorrow's woes.

I urge the various government departments, our premier, our MECs and our department heads to take a look into the possibility of organising events for the children of the northern areas so that they can be taken care of during school holidays.

I believe that an educational programme, facilitated by the various government departments as mentioned above, can make a difference not only today but also in the future and in the lives of these kids.

I know there are people who will come out in support of this idea and I know there are very capable people in these government departments who will know exactly how to set up such events for these children.

I really hope to see something of this nature taking place by the third school term this year.

D Bester, Port Elizabeth