Chris Hani Learners Join Fight Against Bullying And Gangs

Young leaders from across the Eastern Cape gathered in Aliwal North on 12 May 2026 for the South African Police Service’s Provincial Junior Commissioner Competition, a youth-focused initiative aimed at promoting school safety, leadership, and crime prevention.

The competition, hosted by the South African Police Service, brought together learners from districts across the province to engage on issues affecting schools and communities, particularly bullying, gangsterism, violence, and crime prevention.

Welcoming delegates, Joe Gqabi District Commissioner Major General Lindelwa Vellem reflected on the history of the stalwart after whom the district municipality was named before encouraging learners to take leadership roles in their communities.

Provincial Commander for Crime Prevention Awareness and Partnership Policing, Colonel Sibongile Soci, praised districts for their efforts in selecting participants and encouraged learners to become agents of change.

“The competition is a flagship SAPS youth crime prevention initiative designed to develop leadership, civic responsibility, and crime awareness among learners,” she said.

Learners competing for the top Junior Commissioner position were tasked with addressing a major concern facing schools across the province: bullying and gangsterism. Candidates were asked how they would reduce these challenges if selected.

The topic comes amid growing concerns about violence, intimidation, substance abuse, and criminal activity affecting some schools in the Eastern Cape.

Eastern Cape Department of Education Director for School Safety, Yandisa Plata, said government departments had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in response to rising criminal activity in schools.

He outlined intervention measures aimed at tackling gender-based violence and femicide, bullying, drugs, alcohol abuse, gangsterism, and vetting of educators.

“It is your duty to report the crime that is happening around you and to you,” Plata told learners.

With around 1.7 million learners in the province, he urged the young leaders to become positive influences in their communities.

Outgoing Junior Provincial Commissioner, 17-year-old Lihlombe Ncapayi, also encouraged learners to work closely with police structures.

“Working with SAPS is very important. If we don’t fight crime, who will? Our future is very bright,” Ncapayi said.

The Provincial Commissioner further called on Station Commanders and District Commissioners to increase police visibility at schools and actively support school safety initiatives.

“We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis. We must prevent crime before it happens, and that starts with you, our Junior Commissioners,” he said.

The following learners were elected to leadership positions:

• Junior Provincial Commissioner: Siphosethu Mbityana (Chris Hani)
• Junior Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Policing: Chemaques Harris (Nelson Mandela Bay)
• Junior Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Crime Detection: Kwanga Mafuya (Amathole)
• Junior Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Support Services: Saneliswe Mbete (Sarah Baartman)

The SAPS initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to involve young people in crime prevention and strengthen partnerships between schools, communities, and law enforcement agencies.