The Ajax Community Scheme partnered with the British High Commission, Metropolitan Police, SAPS, Charlton Athletic, and British Airways in order to establish the Ajax Hotspots.
The purpose of this initiative is through partnership activity and the development of community safety strategies engage the community to reduce crime, increase community confidence in the police and embed sport as a tool to build community cohesion. The Mitchells Plain SAPS have been very proactive and for that reason the hotspot program will be spread around Mitchells Plain every Monday.
The role of the community coaches is to perform Ajax Hotspots. The definition of a hotspot is an area within the community, a mere open space which the police identify. Here the youth congregate between 4.30-6.30pm engaging in unsociable behaviour.
The community coaches then engage the community in physical activity and life orientation workshops in an attempt to reduce crime, increase community confidence in the police and embed sport as a tool to build community cohesion.
The 2012 Hotspot program kicked off on Monday 13th February in Tafelsig Mitchells Plain on the open field adjacent to Hugenoot Primary. Mitchells Plain SAPS in conjunction with Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme conducted soccer coaching clinics and life skills touching on the topic of drug abuse and gangsterism.
Five stations were assembled by the twenty coaches present with about 100 kids passing through them. The behaviour and respect shown by the youngsters was exemplorary. Many of the local residents soon headed for the field really bringing the community together.
This initiative uses football as a diversionary tool and focuses on youth at risk in the community. The clinics are conducted in crime hotspot areas and in the vicinity of known drug and gangsterism activity.
The Hotspot program in Mitchells Plain will continue on Mondays across the different sectors of Mitchells Plain.
