Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

Unemployed young people in northern KwaZulu-Natal are set to blow the whistle on crime after having been elected on to various community policing forums in the province.

Police told the youngsters at a CPF workshop in Newcastle at the weekend that they had a responsibility to protect their homes and root out crime while their parents were at work.

At the end of the workshop the youngsters were given a uniform and a whistle to blow when they saw anyone committing a crime.

Bhekizizwe Zikalala, chairman of the Newcastle CPF said: "Young people stay at home while their parents are at work.

"These youngsters they should not stand for criminals terrorising their parents."

But he warned that carrying a CPF badge did not give the holder a mandate for vigilantism.

This was reiterated by Superintend Sipho Makhubo, who applauded the youths.