The importance of scholar patrollers in Primary Schools was highlighted at a recent award ceremony hosted by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s (JMPD) Community Outreach Unit at Wembley Stadium in Turffontein.
About 2 500 scholar patrollers from 180 schools across Johannesburg were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to the safety of their fellow pupils.
Luyanda Jafta (12) is a pupil from Unified Public School who has been a scholar patroller for the past two years. She resides in Dobsonville and leaves home at 6am every morning to be at the school in time to help her fellow pupils safely across the road.
“I believe that this role I am playing is paving my future because I want to be a traffic officer when I grow up.
Being part of the scholar patrol team gives me an idea of what my future career is about,” Luyanda said after receiving her award. She was very excited to go home and show off her medal and certificate to her family and friends.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Councillor Michael Sun, attended the ceremony and addressed the pupils present. He said the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) appreciated the scholar patrollers passion and commitment, which was demonstrated by them leaving their homes in the early morning every day to play this important role.
“I want to call you safety officers because that is what you are. You shoulder a lot of responsibility every day, ensuring the safety of your fellow pupils. I commend each and everyone of you here for being the first to school and the last to leave and still ensure your school work does not fall behind,” Sun told the pupils.He also told them he only has respect for their selflessness and dedication and they should tell their friends and families they are safety officers because they save lives every day.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, the spokesperson for the JMPD, said the day was all about recognising the brilliant work done by the scholar patrollers.
“You face harsh weather conditions to ensure other kids get to school and back home safely. If you’re an indication of what the future of the City of Johannesburg is going to be like, then I’d like to say we have young, caring and responsible people in the City,” said Minnaar.
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