“South Africa’s got talent! Make way…” said Sandy Shepherd to enthusiastic applause as the Lavender Hill Children’s Choir left the stage at Lobby Books. This talented group sang optimistically about the realities of their hardscrabble existence at the launch of Youth Violence: Sources and Solutions in South Africa edited by Cathy Ward, Andrew Dawes and Amelia van der Merwe, held earlier this week.

A group of erudite social commentators joined editor Cathy Ward in a panel discussion that offered new insights on the topic of youth violence in South Africa.

Referring to the high levels of violence that children are exposed to, Shepherd said the book was of great significance in its study of the causes of violence, and its recommendations. She thanked the many contributors who were present in the audience for their contributions.

Gilbert Lawrence, head of the Western Cape Department of Community Safety, introduced his co-panellists, Christina Nomdo, Executive Director at RAPCAN; Arina Smit, Programme Design & Development Manager at NICRO; and Cathy Ward, Professor of Psychology at UCT.

Nomdo began by speaking about the socialisation of children’s rights in South Africa. She focused on the challenges and opportunities of becoming an evidence-informed civil society organisation, also known as “practice based evidence”. She said the publication was a page turner – “like a novel I couldn’t put down.”

Lawrence followed with a reflection on provincial government’s stance on violence, noting two separate areas – “The first area is clearly political – the agenda defining the way government does what government does,” he said. “There’s an agenda around the administration and management in government.” Lawrence further reflected on how all political parties have the same priorities: “It’s jobs, unemployment, poverty and crime. There’s a consensus about what the top priorities in our country are, but not in terms of how it should be done.”

Smit concluded by sharing her own awareness and insights into the Child Justice Act, its implementation and issues of diversion when dealing with violent behaviour in children.

An insightful Q&A session followed the discussion and audience members were left with plenty to reflect on.

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Liesl Jobson tweeted from the event using #livebooks:

#livebooks Lavender Hill children’s choir sing at the launch of Youth Violence at Lobby Books. twitter.com/LieslJobson/st…

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

Nomdo describes the book as a page-turner for me. Good academic research but not tome to be ploughed through, a fascinating tale. #livebooks

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

Nomdo reflects on need to carve space to think about bridging gap between life & the academy. Why can’t academics speak plainly? #livebooks

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks How do parents protect & prepare kids when they’re outstripped technologically? Parents don’t get kids’ language. Scorn smspeak.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Gilbert Lawrence reflects on how various SA parties have consensus on what priorities are, if not how best to implement them.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Gilbert Lawrence reflects on how various SA parties have consensus on what priorities are, if not how best to implement them.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Crime can’t always be addressed by throwing money and police resources at them. Successful programmes carry on regardless.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Gilbert: crime stats, however reliable they may be show snapshot of sad affairs. But Govt depts don’t talk to each other.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Adolescent fertility rates soaring. Ageing population smaller here than elsewhere. Population getting younger.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Adolescent fertility rates soaring. Ageing population smaller here than elsewhere. Population getting younger.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Social workers are doing crisis management daily. Very hard to focus on proper intervention. Too few psych care resources.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Cathy Ward thanks panel for comprehensive view on how services are provided to young people.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

#livebooks Ward says that when neighbourhood works well, kids less likely to get into trouble.

— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) March 6, 2012

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Book details

• Youth Violence: Sources and Solutions in South Africa edited by Cathy Ward, Andrew Dawes and Amelia van der Merwe
  EAN: 9781919895871
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