Thamaga gangster problems

| Monday December 15, 2014 16:22

 

Something that was always seen as a passing phase by bored teenagers in the village, is now proving to be more complicated.

Residents of the village are pointing fingers at the police for going easy on gang members and are now convinced that the replacing of the currrent law enforcement officers there with fresh new faces could solve the problems.

On the other hand, police are accusing the residents of bad parenting; for hiding their naughty children when they are wanted by the police for discipline. The local kgotla also seems to concur- only a handful of the parents report their children for misdemeanours.

At the local secondary school, the schoolteachers are now fed up: they have had enough of the lawlessness, which they feel starts at family level. In fact, according to a report on this issue, the teachers want out of this village because the children attack the teachers, and do nasty stuff like smoke dagga during class in full view of teachers and other students. 

As if not enough, some elders in the village have now been identified as the ringleaders of this gang. A teacher who was found spoiling the gang with beer and a kombi ride is being investigated for his role in the gang, while two army officers have also been singled out for their active roles in the Merubisi gang. The issue of the local medicine men has also cropped up after it was found that all members of the gang carry certain charms they claim to have received from their friendly medicine men. This has raised questions as to whether there is an element of witchcraft in the merubisi terror attacks. We hope this matter finds closure as soon as possible before it degenerates into witch-hunt and blame-game without end.What is clear, however, is the fact that families may be failing to mould their children into responsible citizens with values. Ways of strengthening and empowering the family ought to be devised for, once we have families that raise children well, we can be assured of a safer community that is law abiding, and caring.