The Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Thabang Makwetla, will address the 27th Young Men’s Guild (YMG) Triennial Convention at the Saulsville Methodist Church tomorrow (3 June 2016). The YMG Triennial Convention aims to inspire and celebrate good behaviour among young men in the Methodist Church and to emphasise morality which will set a good example to other young men within communities.

Recent report by Statistics South Africa indicated that young South Africans are more susceptible than any other age group to violence and crime due to high unemployment rate.

Currently there are more than 60 percent of youth offenders in Correctional Services, in particular males. Many of them are from previously disadvantaged communities and were trapped in poverty, with few opportunities to earn a decent living. The White Paper on Corrections reiterate “Corrections as a Societal Responsibility”. To this end, the Department of Correctional Services continues to partner with different organisations, including churches, to address issues of unemployment, crime, violence and substance abuse, among others, as a preventative measure to combat crime and to create a favourable future for the youth.

Source: Government of South Africa.