The Needs at Grace Ministries (Youth)

TAFELSIG MITCHELLS PLAIN

In 1976 Mitchell’s Plain was developed on what is known as the Cape Flats.  The area of 3000 hectares was originally planned to house 250 000 residents.  This residential area is situated about 30kms from Cape Town.

Currently about 1 million people are living in Mitchell’s Plain.  About 66 schools accommodate approximately 44,000 learners.

When Mitchell’s Plain was developed, no industrial area was planned where the residents could find employment. Residents have to travel long distances to and from work, having to leave early in the morning and coming home late at night.  Their modes of transport are taxi, bus, train and private vehicles.  Some have to leave as early as 05h00 and come home around 19h00. 

When both parents are forced to work, their children are often left to their own devices.  This phenomenon results in a dropout rate in schools of about 20%.  Poor education and few opportunities cause unemployment and is a serious problem amongst the youth.  At present drug abuse is rife as one out of three children has experimented with drugs at some stage of their lives.  Addiction is the result.  Drugs such as Tik and heroine are most common as well as dagga (cannabis) and alcohol.  It is estimated that about 42, 8% of drug addicts are under the age of 20 years.  Social problems such as teenage pregnancies, violence and crime are the order of the day and lead to emotional disruption of young lives.  There are 17 known gangs operating in the area and these are responsible for most of the crimes.  A serious problem for residents is that crime such as murder, rape assault, burglaries and drug trafficking has increased over the last 15 years.  It also happens that residents, in certain areas take the law into their own hands by physically driving out these drug lords.  These socio-economic problems that residents have been battling with for years, claim victims on a daily basis.  Most of the residents are for obvious reasons, despondent and many of the working youth move out of the area.