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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Progress has been made against the scourge of gangsterism that plagued Imizamo Yethu Secondary School in Thembalethu earlier this year. This reassurance was given to parents and learners by Bongani Mkongi, Deputy Minister of Police, during a police report-back meeting on Friday 23 August.

"The number of lunatics responsible for the violence has decreased. On my last visit I gave an instruction to establish a learner safety unit and the process is continuing." Most of the learners have realised that gangsterism is evil, but those "rotten apples" who do not want to mend their ways will be dealt with, he said. It is essential that extramural activities such as sport, recreational and leadership courses are initiated to provide activities for learners after school.

Mkongi also said that the police can't be used to settle personal scores. People who open a case and withdraw it a day or two later are warned that "the state may take over the case and it will continue".

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Teachers, parents and the community have a fundamental role - not to be leaders, but to provide leadership to learners. He cited the example of parents who smoke dagga in their home, causing the children to think that this is their tradition. 

The community listening to the tough words of the minster at a police report-back meeting on Friday afternoon.

"It is wrong, it is against the law and it must stop, as the problems that follow become the problems of the community and the police."