Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

Mpumalanga police have organised a clean-up campaign in which youth will tidy Thulamahashe township, Bushbuckridge on Saturday morning.

Bushbuckridge mayor Milton Morema will address youth on strategies to keep them away from crime, drugs, alcohol and HIV-Aids.

Youth from neighbouring villages like Kumani, Rolle, Edinburgh, Songeni, Zola and New Forest are expected to join those from Thulamahashe in the clean-up.

Mhala police spokesman, Inspector Brian Mnisi, said the aim of the campaign was to encourage the youth to be clean, as well as informing them about crime, drugs and HIV-Aids prevention.

"These are some of the things that affect our youth. By engaging them in this campaign, we hope to get them to help in fighting crime as well as preventing drug abuse and the spread of HIV-Aids," said Mnisi yesterday.

The four police stations that form part of the greater Bushbuckridge area - Mhala, Mapulaneng, Acornhoek and Calcutta - have been invited to attend the function that will also involve provincial police management.

After cleaning up the township, the youth will meet at the Thulamahashe Stadium where Morema will address them.

Thulamahashe is situated in one of the province's crime hotspots.

Armed robbery, rape, murder, hijacking, house breaking, theft and fraud take place in the township as well as in the Bushbuckridge area as a whole.

A local high school pupil, Thokozani Maphosa, said the campaign would help the youth involve themselves in a community initiative.